ASTON VILLA OLD STARS - 12 v 1 - SHENSTONE PATHFINDER

Sunday 6th April 2008

'STILIYAN PETROV SEES RAMPANT OLD STARS HIT A DOZEN'

The Aston Villa Old Stars, sponsored by Gemini Wealth Management, produced a magnificent display in front of current Aston Villa midfield star Stiliyan Petrov, who made the comment "you guys pass the ball better than us (Aston Villa first-team)!"

The Aston Villa Old Stars were without midfield maestro Gordon Cowans who was away on duty with the Aston Villa youth team, but welcomed Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland legend Steve Staunton for his first game of the season.

Steve Staunton joined his former international teammate Mark Kinsella in midfield and completing the ‘all-international’ midfield trio was League Championship & European Cup winning legend Des Bremner.

The Aston Villa Old Stars also welcomed back for their first game of the season, former England U21 international fullback Bryan Small and the exceptionally gifted forward Mark Burke, whose career saw him play for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Wolves and former European champions Steaua Bucharest.

Despite a firm and less than flat surface, the Aston Villa Old Stars started the game with some excellent passing and in just the 5th minute, superb one-touch passing between Mark Kinsella, David Norton, Darren Roberts and Mark Burke created the chance for David Norton to open the scoring.

Ten minutes later, good interplay between centre back Darren Bradley and David Norton allowed Mark Burke to make it 2-0. In the 19th minute, the Aston Villa Old Stars broke down the left wing and Steve Staunton delivered a trademark cross for Mark Burke to volley home from 12 yards to make it 3-0.

Shenstone Pathfinder tightened their defence but on 40 minutes, Mark Kinsella broke down the right and picked out his former Republic of Ireland team-mate Steve Staunton with a pin-point cross, who made no mistake with a subtle side-footed half volley from 10 yards out to make it 4-0.

Three minutes later, a beautiful one-two between Mark Burke and Steve Staunton created the opportunity for David Norton to drill home a stunning shot from the edge of the area to put the Aston Villa Old Stars 5-0 in front at half time.

The Aston Villa Old Stars started the second half in determined fashion and it took just 9 minutes for them to make it 6-0 after great play by Steve Staunton left David Norton with a tap-in to complete his hat-trick.

It was one-way traffic as the Aston Villa Old Stars mounted attack after attack. On the hour, Mark Burke completed his hat-trick with a great shot from outside the box and 5 minutes later, Steve Staunton waltzed through the opponents defence before rounding the keeper to score his second goal and the Aston Villa Old Stars 8th.

It took less than a minute for the Aston Villa Old Stars to make it 9-0 as Mark Burke produced a sublime ‘curler’ from the right-hand side of the penalty area that left the goalkeeper with no chance on 66 minutes. In the 72nd minute Mark Burke took his personal goal tally to 5 when coolly slotting home a penalty to make it 10-0.

Three minutes later – joy for Shenstone Pathfinder – as a cross from left back John Branch eluded both forwards and defenders to nestle into the far corner of the Aston Villa Old Stars net. Having taken something of a battering up to this point, it was a fitting reward for the Shenstone Pathfinder team who played the game in a great spirit and never gave up trying to play good football.

But the Aston Villa Old Stars didn’t relent and on 85 minutes David Norton laid the ball back to the edge of the penalty area for Mark Burke to drive home an unstoppable shot to complete his own double hat-trick and put the Aston Villa Old Stars 11-1 in front.

Then in the last minute, a free kick from Steve Staunton provided the opportunity for substitute and guest player Charlie Singh to slot home goal number 12 under the advancing goalkeeper. It was a great moment for Charlie in front of his close friend Stiliyan Petrov, and one he’ll no doubt dine out on for many years to come.

It was a great all-round team performance from the Aston Villa Old Stars under the captaincy of Des Bremner and picking a ‘man of the match’ was very difficult. However, 6 goals from Mark Burke ensured he won the award.

Stand-in manager Neil Rioch commented, "with a couple of games now under their belt this season, the guys are getting into their stride and it’ll take a very good side to beat us. Today’s performance was a real confidence booster to take into our next game against Birmingham City Old Stars, who will be hell bent on turning us over, so I may need to recall myself to the team to ensure we keep a clean sheet."