( 1 )                                ( 2 )
                                                         Craddock 2
                                                         Atherton
                                                         M.Conway


Villa returned to winning ways with this comprehensive victory on a rain soaked pitch and with at times poor visibility.

The visitors started the game brightly and were a goal up inside the first three minutes. Rhenden Pillay caused problems down the right forcing an early corner, he was involved again a minute later as he played in Matt Atherton whose low ball into the box caught out the home defence and George Craddock was on hand at the far post to turn the ball home. Villa continued to press, a Damien Stewart free kick on the left found Pete Ryder who shot just wide of the post.

Damien Stewart shot across the face of goal after being played in by George Craddock, the Villa pressure continued as they forced a number of free kicks and corners, from one of these James O'Loughlin had the ball in the net following a Pete Ryder shot, but the effort was ruled offside. The home defence was nearly caught out after twenty minutes as Matt Atherton broke down the centre , but the keeper managed to block his shot.

The mid period of the half saw little in the way of chances, but as half time approached there was an amazing sequence of events. With a couple of minutes of the half remaining Rhenden Pillay attacked down the right, the keeper spilled his low shot and Matt Atherton was on hand to make it 2-0. Then in injury time BAC had a shot blasted into a group of Villa defenders and somehow the referee saw a deliberate handball and gave a penalty which BAC converted. A minute later he awarded a second penalty for what seemed a fair challenge and sent off James O'Loughlin, this time Dave Bibby saved the day , turning the kick onto the post.

Ten man Villa started the second half determined to hold onto their lead and were the better side throughout, they continued to create chances. On the hour Matt Atherton came close, heading over a Mick Bradshaw free kick. Two minutes later he headed a ball on for George Craddock who saw his lob hit the top of the bar. Three minutes later George Craddock got his second goal of the night as he timed his run to beat the offside trap and shoot into the bottom corner.

By this time the home side were struggling to contain Villa, following a number of corners Stuart Bingham came close with a header from a Matt Conway cross. The last and best goal of the match came after seventy six minutes, a Mick Bradshaw throw found Matt Conway who took one touch before driving a shot into the far top corner of the net, he nearly had a second with six minutes remaining as he headed over from a Mick Bradshaw free kick. In the end a comfortable win to move Villa back into the top three.

Team  -  Bibby, McAlister, O'Loughlin, Ryder, ( Briggs ) Bradshaw, Pillay,
M.Conway, Bingham, Craddock, Stewart, ( Southern ) Atherton, ( Zverina )
Not used - Leigh