EUXTON VILLA 1-3 GARSTANG
Light Distribution Amateur Shield semi final
Thursday 22nd February
The Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium
Goalscorers: Walker (9), Salisbury (23), Birch (48), Entwistle (53)

A wonderstrike from Tom Entwistle helped Garstang came from behind to beat Euxton Villa and reach the Light Distribution Amateur Shield.

Entwistle's 40-yard effort was the pick of the bunch as Jake Salisbury and Dan Birch also got onto the scoresheet, after Rob Walker broke the deadlock early on for Villa.

And after losing to eventual winners Burscough Richmond at the same stage last year, there were jubilant scenes at full time as Garstang sealed their spot in May's final, where they will face either Slyne with Hest or Fulwood Amateurs.

It took only nine minutes for Walker to open the scoring for Euxton Villa, heading home from Mark Swift's pinpoint cross.

But Garstang were soon back in the game as Jake Salisbury buried a low shot down the centre of the box 15 minutes later.

Euxton had a golden opportunity to reclaim their advantage around the half hour mark with a curling free kick which whistled inches past the wrong side of the post, before at the other end, Entwistle tried his luck from long distance but saw his shot fall well wide.

An even first half was preceded by a swift beginning to the second as Birch put Garstang in front just three minutes after the interval, the defender slotting home coolly after he was played in by a through ball.

Garstang turned up the pressure and bagged their third through Entwistle, who spotted Euxton 'keeper Liam Higginbotham off his line and rippled the back of the net with a superbly accurate long-range effort from just past the halfway line.

Walker then hit the woodwork twice in two minutes for Villa, first rattling the crossbar from a corner before striking the post from inside the area, with George Davies not able to get a foot to the rebound.

With 20 minutes remaining, Johnny Hothersall attempted an angled effort which flew past the far post, as Garstang looked to take control of the match.

Villa endeavoured to get back into the game with a late surge of pressure, but it wasn't to be as Garstang held out to claim victory and set up their Amateur Shield final showdown.

Euxton Villa: Higginbotham, Mawdesley (Morris, 67), Swift, Thompson, Heald, Brooke, Walker, Bennett (Bibby, 55, Gronback, Galliers, Davies
Subs not used: Billington, Bolton, Hutton

Garstang: Curwen, Birch, Graham, O’Connor, Fawcett, Sailor, Salisbury (Towers, 90), Entwistle (Byrne, 80), A Coar (Dodd, 73), R Coar, Hothersall
Subs not used: Murphy