Reds Win In The Rain

A great away performance at Euxton Villa helped The Non-League Reds to a 3-0 win and extended their unbeaten run to six games. More importantly it meant another move up the League table and more breathing space from the relegation zone.

The rain was torrential and had put paid to all other NWCFL Premier Division games that were due to take place that night. However, due to the artificial surface at the newly promoted club, the game went ahead.

On 4 minutes Joel Skillen, making his 50th appearance for AFC, played a great through ball to Adam Moorcroft, but the skipper just lost his footing a little as he struck his shot and it went wide. Two minutes later, Jack Hinnigan tried to curl a left-footed effort in but it sailed narrowly over the bar.

Euxton had their first effort on 8 minutes as both sides continued to get forward quickly. The cross from the left was headed off target by Ince. Caleb Jones had a free-kick pushed away by the keeper, with Skillen unable to hit the target with the rebound. Hinnigan made a great last ditch block from an Euxton strike on 21 minutes, as the game continued to go from end to end.

AFC won a corner in the 27th minute which Caleb Jones sent in from the right. The ball was cleared back out to him and when he crossed it back in first time, the ball struck a raised hand. Initially the referee gave a free kick to Euxton, but after being convinced to speak to his assistant, the correct decision of a penalty to AFC was given. Elliot Taylor stepped up and stroked the ball into the net.

With five minutes of the half remaining, AFC almost gifted the home side an equaliser after a mix up in defence; the ball eventually ending up in the grateful hands of Ben Barnes. As the clock ticked over to the 45th minute, Harry Wright-Ocana, who was celebrating his 21st birthday, broke up an Euxton attack. He found Caleb Jones who played a fantastic pass over the defence into the path of Elliot Taylor. Taylor used his strength to hold off the chasing defender, cut back inside and finish for his 20th goal of the season.

Elliot fires home to double the lead just on half-time

The rain actually stopped as the 2nd half began, but both sides continued to battle hard, as they knew the importance of the next goal in the game. Understandably it was the home side that were desperate to create more chances, but they were mainly restricted to long range efforts that didn't hit the target.

Taylor couldn't get enough power to test the keeper with his headed effort on 73 minutes, for AFC and a couple of minutes later, Ben Barnes had to make a flying save from a Faris Muhammed free-kick.

AFC had used all four of their substitutes and they all made an impact when coming on. The introduction of Cam Rooney, Deacon Smalley, Paddy Davies and David Blankendal, gave the impetuous back to AFC. It was intense pressing that led to the final goal of the evening, as Caleb Jones closed the full-back down. The ball broke to Blankendal, who placed it past the keeper to score his first goal for the Club and secure the points.

The only negative on an otherwise fantastic evening, was a red card shown to Nathan Giblin, who had an excellent game but kicked out at an opponent in the final seconds. Still, it didn't dampen the celebratory mood of another three points on the road. Each of the 15 players used, all played their part and the same can be said for the travelling fans, who made the trip in atrocious conditions and never stopped singing throughout.

The Non-League Reds are in Macron Cup this Wednesday evening, when they face a trip to Cammell Laird 1907. Kick off is 7:45pm but with the weather the way it is, it will be worthwhile keeping an eye on our social media pages to see if the game goes ahead.

FINAL SCORE - Euxton Villa 0 v 3 AFC Liverpool

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Hinnigan

7. Jones 8. Starkey 9. Taylor 10. Brown 11. Skillen

Subs used - Davies, Rooney, Smalley, Blankendal

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams