Villa eventually paid the price for a first half of missed chances in a game were they were always on top, but for once unable to turn their superiority into goals.

The visitors started well forcing two early corners, then Shaun Gibbs was in action saving at the near post following a through ball. It was now Villa's turn to attack. A Sam Shone shot was blocked for a corner, from which Matt Conway put a shot wide. On ten minutes Villa had a great chance. A ball into the box was headed back across the area by Liam Conway to Damien Stewart
whose thunderous shot was somehow tipped over the bar by the keeper.

Ten minutes later Burnley did have the ball in the net, only for the effort to be correctly ruled offside. Villa now started to increase the pressure.
They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, Danny Dawson's effort was met by Mick Bradshaw who flicked the ball onto the post. The woodwork came to Burnley's rescue again three minutes later as Sam Shone's shot hit the outside of the post. On thirty eight minutes Villa were awarded a free kick on the left, this time an effort from Sam Shone hit the bar.

Burnley were at this point trying to get to the break without conceding, and nearly caught Villa out when a ball in from the right bounced on top of the Villa bar. It was the home side however who finished the half the stronger.
Good Villa pressure and passing set up Sam Shone who just curled his shot over the angle of post and bar. With two minutes of the first half remaining James O'Loughlin chased a ball to the touchline and managed to turn it back to Liam Conway who saw his shot turned onto the post by the Burnley keeper.

Following the break Villa felt that if they got one goal, then more would follow, but things did not go to plan as Burnley took the lead within a minute of the restart following an attack down the right. Villa continued to attack, and four minutes later should have equalised. From a Damien Stewart
free kick on the left James O'Loughlin's header forced a one handed save from the keeper, Matt Conway followed up and only a combination of defenders and the post prevented the ball from being forced over the line.

The Villa pressure continued , Liam Conway burst down the middle before shooting just wide. The visitors were now content to protect their lead and try to hit Villa on the break. This nearly worked after fifty two minutes, when only a great saving tackle from Rhys Crombie prevented Villa from going two down. The pattern of the game was now Villa attack and Burnley defend.

A ball in from the right by Adam McAlister was headed wide by Danny Dawson, he came close again three minutes later when his free kick was blocked. With fifteen minutes remaining Mark Swift picked a ball up on the left before putting a shot wide, then Danny Dawson ran onto a through ball only for the keeper to block his effort. With two minutes remaining a low ball in from
James O'Loughlin was turned just wide of the post by Danny Dawson. On the day Villa did not play badly and Burnley provided stubborn resistance to eventually take the points.

Team  -  Gibbs, McAlister, O'Loughlin, Crombie, Winstanley ( Whewell )
L.Conway, Bradshaw, ( Swift ) M.Conway, Stewart, Shone ( Thompson ) Dawson.