( 1 )                                                     ( 0 )
                           Stewart
                           L.Conway

A hot day and a dry pitch produced an uninspiring game as both teams toiled in the hot conditions before Villa wrapped up another three points.

Considering the heat both teams started at a pace that was never going to last. The early chances fell to the visitors with a couple of shots wide of the target. Villa then started to settle and take control of the game. On fourteen minutes Liam Conway attacked down the right, he forced his way into the area before trying to set up Damien Stewart but the chance was lost.
From a Villa throw on the left Noel Clarkson cut inside the box before shooting into the side netting.

Villa continued to probe, Dave Mason played in Damien Stewart whose first time shot flew just over the bar. Then Dylan Southern released Liam Conway down the middle, but his effort was just wide of the post. On twenty five minutes Villa took the lead, a quickly taken free kick by Noel Clarkson caught out the Norcross defence and Damien Stewart drove the ball home inside the near post. Euxton continued to attack, Liam Conway again saw a shot just fly wide of the target.

It was then the turn of the visitors to test the Villa defence, they forced a number of corners and Dylan Southern was forced to clear with a header over his own bar. Then Villa were back on the attack. From a corner kick Dave Mason was just wide with a powerful header, he came close again when set up by Liam Conway, shooting just over the bar. With the half drawing to a close Villa nearly had a second goal, firstly Damien Stewart saw his lob hit the bar, then Liam Conway following up saw his header blocked on the line. Villa finished the half strongly keeping the visitors on the back foot.

The second half started as the first had finished with Villa on the attack, within a minute Mick Bradshaw broke down the left, finding Damien Stewart, his shot was saved , then Dave Mason saw his follow up header blocked. He then turned provider as he hit a low ball across the face of the goal, but no one was able to get a touch on the ball. Six minutes into the half the game was effectively wrapped up as Villa scored their second. Liam Conway picked up the ball midway in the Norcross half, he drove past three defenders into the box before giving the keeper no chance with a powerful shot.

Four minutes later the home side came close again. From a free-kick on the left Damien Stewart saw his shot turned around the foot of the post. For the last half hour the pace of the game noticeably slowed as both teams tired.
There were few further chances as Villa comfortably saw out time to secure the points and keep the pressure on the league leaders.

Team  - Yates,  C.Chambers, O'Loughlin, Walker, Bradshaw, L.Conway, Southern, Clarkson, ( Winstanley ) Stewart, Shone, ( Ryder ) Mason, ( Pillay )

Not used  - Gibbs
            Heald