O'Loughlin,  Mason

This hard fought Villa win open up the title race with at least three sides still in contention to finish as league champions.

Games between these two sides are always close , and this one was no exception. Poulton started full of confidence given their current league position. On seven minutes they broke down the right where a ball across the box was hit back across the face of the Villa goal. Villa responded, Sam Shone cut in from the right before seeing his left foot shot blocked. As the
half progressed Villa gradually imposed themselves on the home side. On fourteen minutes they won a free kick on the right side of the area when the Poulton keeper handled outside his box. Noel Clarkson's effort was blocked by the home defence.

Poulton came back, an attack down the right resulted in Stuart Yates saving low to his left. Then it was Villa again, they won a free kick on the left hand corner of the area, Damien Stewart whipped the ball in, James O'Loughlin was at the far post and his effort flashed across the face of goal. Then Poulton had their best chance of the half as a through ball saw a forward go around Stuart Yates and hit the ball towards goal, only for Danny Walker to clear off the line. On the half hour Villa went in front, they won a free kick just outside the area, Noel Clarkson took the kick quickly, as a defender tried to block the ball it spun up and James O'Loughlin following up dived to head the ball home.

This rattled the home side, and six minutes later Villa nearly capitalised on this when Dave Mason turned well in the area before shooting just wide of the goal. Poulton had one more chance before the break when an effort from the right hit the outside of the post. On the balance of play and chances created Villa just edged the first half but there was very little in it.

From the restart Villa knew the home side would throw everything at them, so they were delighted when with only a minute played Rhenden Pillay won a throw on the right , Noel Clarkson's long throw was met by Dave Mason who headed into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. This now gave Villa a two goal cushion to defend and this they did , now relying on breakaways.
The whole team defended as a unit making it very difficult for the home side to break them down.

Poulton did have half chances, a couple of shots across the face of goal, but Villa defended well with James O'Loughlin and Danny Walker outstanding in the centre of defence. With just under fifteen minutes remaining Villa could have gone further ahead when Noel Clarkson found Rhenden Pillay on the right , only for the keeper to block his effort. Poulton intensified their efforts, with one chance headed off the line, before a second effort was turned onto the Villa bar. The visitors held out to record what was in the end a deserved victory to keep the title race open.

Team   -  Yates, C.Chambers, O'Loughlin, Walker, Bradshaw, ( Winstanley ) Pillay, Southern, Clarkson, ( Wood ) Stewart, Shone, Mason. Not used - Ryder