Villa progressed to Round 2 of the Coward Cup following an even encounter with division 2 visitors Chelmer Wanderers and in doing so earning a visit to the same divisions leaders Hanningfield.
Villa started slowly similarly to the previous week but carved out the better chances which all ultimately were either wasted or foiled by excellent last ditch defending by the visitors. Having said that Wanderers were no push overs and had a great chance themselves with a far post header just shaving the Villa cross bar with the scores level.
Steve Webb had two good chances when well placed, Tris Woolfenden was foiled by the home stopper, Jay Cracknell had an effort deflected wide by a brave defender and Sam Colley shot just over melting the paint off of the cross bar in the process before Villa were punished for their lack of accuracy.
Reminding the back line of their previous weeks defensive lapses, manager Purser communicated to his back line to defend well and man mark. Less than 20 seconds later that reminder had fallen on deaf ears as Daz Douglas let his marker escape with the Chelmer man heading in unmarked from 3 yards out. An offside appeal fell on deaf ears with home linesman Scott Winning deeming the goal to be good and kept his flag down by his side.
The half time team talk seemed to do the business though and within a short while Villa were level. Cracknell found Webb on the right hand side and for a moment it looked as if the Villa wide man had run the ball out of play. In resurrecting the situation Webb controlled the ball well on the byline before half volleying the ball across goal. With the keeper attempting to claim the high ball it was just out of reach and his touch took the ball out of the reach of the closing defender and Tris Woolfenden was on hand to easily tuck the ball over the line.
Villa were now in the ascendency although Wanderers gave as good as they got and they were rewarded by scoring the best goal of the game to regain the lead. A swift counter attack down the left caught Villa cold and although Wayne Pike stretched every sinew to reach the excellent pin point cross he couldn’t get enough on the ball and it was swept home from inside the 6 yard box.
This was a sucker punch for Villa who were way ahead in the possession stakes and their pre-season fitness schedule was paying dividends as they looked the fitter outfit with Wanderers having to make countless changes due to tired legs and cramp.
Villa were to gain their reward in levelling the score in fortuitous circumstances when an outstanding drive from Scott Collins was deflected into the net by an outstretched Webb foot which left the Wanderers keeper diving in despair. Whether Collins effort would have beaten the keeper remains to be seen but Villa weren’t in the slightest bit bothered and they started to turn the screw.
Woolfenden appeared to have left his shooting boots at home when being gifted a one on one shortly after firing straight at the keeper when expected to do better and he was once again foiled shortly after when well positioned. However this save had a better result as the well struck shot could only be parried out and into the path of strike partner Cracknell who gleefully rammed the ball home from 6 yards. This goal came in part from a fantastic piece of skill from Ben Agar Hutton whose accurate volleyed pass had found Woolfenden in the first instance from a position on the field that hadn’t until then looked particularly threatening.
Woolfenden went close again but was this time agonisingly denied by the crossbar after lifting his shot over the keeper which left Villa having to see out a nervy final 10 minutes which they did so with relative confidence.
