Saturday 13 August 2005 - Aston Villa 2 - 2 Bolton The 'Mike Riley Circus' rolled into Villa Park once again on Saturday and as always this excuse for a referee turned what could have been a highly entertaining football match into a stop-start cure for insomnia. The game started at a frenetic pace and when new signing Hughes provided the cross for fellow newcomer Philips to head home, after what seemed like seconds, the thought on every Villa fans mind was 'now we're on the up at last'. It didn't last, defensive frailties cost Villa the win and the match ended 2-2 with all the goals coming in the first 8 minutes. On the positive it was important for Villa not to lose the first game of the season, and lets not forget that Bolton are no mugs. From a personal point of view it was great to be back at the home of football. Even if late security tannoy announcement tests did mean that quite few people started leaving the ground before the game had started! Chatting to fellow season ticket holder and neighbour, Billy prior to kick off, a whole summers worth discussions came out. Particularly, Peter Crouch and Kevin Philips likeness to players of old. If anyone out there who's a little longer in the tooth than myself can pass comment on the ability of Tony Hately I'd be interested to hear. Billy and my Dad tell me he could hit a sixpence from 30 yards with his head, but couldn't hit a barn door with either foot! Other players who I'd love to hear memories of who were mentioned are Alex Cropley, Jimmy McCewan, Ray Graydon and Bruce Rioch. | 
