Match Report


WatfordWatford     Aston VillaAston Villa
Computer Player Computer Player Computer Player Computer Player
Kemal BenaliK. Benali58
G
1
G
49Ralph MarrR. Marr
Florian ErlerF. Erler53
D
2
D
65David ElliottD. Elliott
Scott ElliottS. Elliott51
D
3captain
D
64Hugo MarquesH. Marques
Nwankwo GreavesN. Greaves49
D
4
D
55Robert CleggR. Clegg
Jason HendrieJ. Hendrie59
M
5
D
52Dave Lua-LuaD. Lua-Lua
Ben LoweB. Lowe56
M
6
M
59Kelvin BarmbyK. Barmby
Kieron LofthouseK. Lofthouse53
M
captain7
M
56Michael RichardsM. Richards
Jason ShawJ. Shaw44
M
8
M
56Wes LisbieW. Lisbie
Ledley RichardsL. Richards62
A
9
M
51Julian KingJ. King
Mark SinclairM. Sinclair57
A
10
A
68Ugo ToddU. Todd
Robert BouldR. Bould50
A
11
A
66Martin RufusM. Rufus
 
George SwiftG. Swift56
G
12
A
56Brian CutlerB. Cutler
Wayne BloomerW. Bloomer53
G
13
A
56Matthew KeaneM. Keane
Jonathan LuzhnyJ. Luzhny45
A
14
M
48David WalkerD. Walker

Back Of The Net
today's match is sponsored by BOTN
Match Report
It's a sunny day here at Vicarage Road where Watford play host to Aston Villa. A crowd of 4,978 fill this 5,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Watford are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Aston Villa appear to be shaped for 4-4-2.
Today's match is refereed by John Butt.


0.00
Aston Villa get the match underway!
3.53
Wes Lisbie flicks a high pass forward to Martin Rufus who brings the ball under control. Martin Rufus knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Nwankwo Greaves.
6.45
Kieron Lofthouse surges forward with the ball. Kieron Lofthouse tries a spectacular long range effort. It curls slightly but Ralph Marr manages to gather it easily.
10.41
Kieron Lofthouse makes a beautiful solo run. Kieron Lofthouse knocks the ball forward to Mark Sinclair but the linesmans flag is up. Offside!
12.13
Michael Richards plays the ball forward to Martin Rufus. Martin Rufus plays a one-two with Ugo Todd and advances towards the goal... Martin Rufus cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
18.50
Jason Shaw controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Ledley Richards. Ledley Richards shoots from outside the area. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
21.26
Florian Erler threads a neat ball through to Jason Hendrie. Jason Hendrie sees Ledley Richards in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Ledley Richards whips in a cross ball towards Mark Sinclair. Hugo Marques barges into Mark Sinclair. That's got to be a penalty! No, the referee isn't even looking in that direction!!
22.54
Nwankwo Greaves hits a low pass to Kieron Lofthouse. Kieron Lofthouse threads a neat ball through to Mark Sinclair. Mark Sinclair knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by David Elliott.
26.12
Seeing a gap ahead, Wes Lisbie picks a pass forward to Martin Rufus. Martin Rufus shoots from 20 yards. The keeper is more than a match for it. He makes it look easy!
32.42
Jason Shaw knocks the ball to his team mate, Ledley Richards. Ledley Richards knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
33.43
Kieron Lofthouse flicks a high ball forward to Ledley Richards who takes it down. Ledley Richards knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Hugo Marques.
42.05
Jason Hendrie threads a neat ball through to Mark Sinclair. Mark Sinclair knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Ralph Marr who gathers it comfortably.
45.00
Ben Lowe deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Mark Sinclair. Mark Sinclair knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Ralph Marr who gathers it comfortably.
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Watford appear unchanged since the first half. Aston Villa also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
The whistle blows and Watford kick off!
48.26
Michael Richards kicks a strong pass forward to Martin Rufus. Martin Rufus makes a defence splitting pass to Ugo Todd. Ugo Todd rockets a shot on goal but he balloons it over the crossbar!
49.05
Jason Shaw flicks a high pass forward. Ledley Richards holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Ledley Richards knocks in a cross ball towards Mark Sinclair. Mark Sinclair flicks the ball with his head but it is deflected wide by David Elliott.
50.14
Corner kick to Watford. Ledley Richards plays it to the far post. Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Ben Lowe provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal but it's a woeful effort!
51.46
Hugo Marques threads the ball through to Kelvin Barmby. Kelvin Barmby makes a probing pass to Ugo Todd. Ugo Todd runs straight at the defence! Ugo Todd side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. The keeper is more than a match for it. Superb keeping!
57.50
Hugo Marques flicks a high pass forward. Wes Lisbie holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Wes Lisbie flicks a high pass forward. Martin Rufus collects the pass. Martin Rufus shoots from 25 yards but it is shockingly off target!
59.39
Scott Elliott flicks the ball to his team mate, Kieron Lofthouse. Kieron Lofthouse flicks a high ball forward to Ledley Richards who takes it down. Ledley Richards knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Dave Lua-Lua.
61.05
Dave Lua-Lua runs forward with the ball. Dave Lua-Lua flicks a high pass forward to Martin Rufus who brings the ball under control. Martin Rufus shoots from outside the area but it's drastically wayward!
63.32
Ben Lowe plays the ball forward to Robert Bould. Robert Bould shoots from outside the area but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
66.44
Florian Erler makes a simple pass to Kieron Lofthouse. Kieron Lofthouse kicks a strong pass forward to Robert Bould. Robert Bould knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
67.34
Kieron Lofthouse threads a neat ball through to Robert Bould. Robert Bould knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Ralph Marr who gathers it comfortably.
73.09
Michael Richards flicks a high pass forward. Ugo Todd collects the pass. Ugo Todd knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Kemal Benali who gathers it comfortably.
77.36
Ben Lowe clumsily knocks into Wes Lisbie. The referee calls over Ben Lowe and warns him to calm down! Wes Lisbie runs off the knock.
79.39
Florian Erler knocks the ball forward to Ben Lowe. Ben Lowe chips the ball to his team mate, Robert Bould. Robert Bould knocks in a cross ball towards Ledley Richards. Ledley Richards outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. What a cracker!! Ralph Marr had no chance!! Goal for Watford!
85.07
Wes Lisbie sees Martin Rufus in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Martin Rufus knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
90.00
Scott Elliott flicks a high pass forward. Ben Lowe collects the pass. Ben Lowe makes a probing pass to Mark Sinclair. Mark Sinclair knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but Robert Bould is offside!
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!

Match Statistics
 

Watford

Aston Villa
Goals
2
1
Shots on Target
4
3
Shots off Target
2
3
Offsides
2
0
Fouls
1
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
59.1%
40.9%
Play Area
24.7%
46.2%
29%

Scorers
Ledley Richards 18, 79
Martin Rufus 12

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Ledley Richards of Watford

Match Ratings
1.Kemal Benali (GK)
6
2.Florian Erler (DEF)
6
3.Scott Elliott (DEF)
6
4.Nwankwo Greaves (DEF)
6
5.Jason Hendrie (MID)
6
6.Ben Lowe (MID)
7
7.Kieron Lofthouse (MID)
8
8.Jason Shaw (MID)
7
9.Ledley Richards (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
10.Mark Sinclair (ATT)
6
11.Robert Bould (ATT)
6
 
12.George Swift (GK)
0
13.Wayne Bloomer (GK)
0
14.Jonathan Luzhny (ATT)
0

1.Ralph Marr (GK)
6
2.David Elliott (DEF)
6
3.Hugo Marques (DEF)
6
4.Robert Clegg (DEF)
6
5.Dave Lua-Lua (DEF)
6
6.Kelvin Barmby (MID)
6
7.Michael Richards (MID)
7
8.Wes Lisbie (MID)
7
9.Julian King (MID)
6
10.Ugo Todd (ATT)
7
11.Martin Rufus (ATT)goal scored
8
 
12.Brian Cutler (ATT)
0
13.Matthew Keane (ATT)
0
14.David Walker (MID)
0