( 1 ) ( 2 )
Kirkpatrick
O'Loughlin

This was a highly competitive match with both sides fully committed to taking the three points. A good result on the day would push the winner into a very good position, so there was much to play for.

The game started at breakneck pace with both teams working hard to seize the early initiative, but it was Villa who edged ahead. With five minutes played a move down the right saw an early ball played into the BAC box. Elliot Dunn reacted first and his flick on was met by Ian Kirkpatrick who skilfully guided his downward header into the bottom corner.

While Villa were having the better of the early exchanges the home side were still dangerous, and so it proved after twelve minutes when an early ball over the top caught out the Villa defence, this allowed BAC to beat the offside trap and level the scores. This Villa side are nothing if not resilient and they again took the game to the home side. With fifteen minutes played skilful play on the left by Liam Conway and Sam Shone resulted in a dangerous ball into the box which Ian Kirkpatrick just failed to connect with.

Three minutes later Villa regained the lead, they forced a corner on the right, the ball in was well met by Danny Brown his goal bound effort was turned home by James O'Loughlin. The visitors sensed the game was there for the taking and they pushed on for a third goal. On twenty two minutes a through ball released Rhenden Pillay who cleverly beat the last defender, only to see his effort blocked by the keeper. A minute later Villa came close again when Sam Shone put in a ball from the right which was well met by Liam Conway, but his effort flew just over the bar.

The home side also had their chances, a header just cleared the Villa bar following a free kick, then Liam Conway tested the home keeper with a low shot, on thirty eight minutes Shaun Gibbs produced the save of the game tipping over a free kick which was heading towards the top corner. Villa finished the first half strongly and following a corner Danny Brown was unlucky to see his well hit shot headed off the line. Then with a minute remaining Liam Conway broke free only for his low shot to fly past the foot of the post.

The second half saw Villa again start strongly, with a minute played Liam Conway surged down the right, his cross was met by Matt Conway, but an unfortunate bobble saw his effort fly over the bar. Three minutes later Elliot Dunn came even closer as his shot hit the inside of the post and flew across the face of goal. On sixty three minutes he came close again, meeting a corner kick, only for his shot to fly over the bar.

The home side were working hard to get back into the match, but in fairness on the ratio of goal attempts Villa should have increased their lead, Elliot Dunn must be wondering how he didn't finish the game with a hat trick, he came close again on sixty five minutes following a corner but again his effort was scrambled clear.

As the match neared full time Villa's attempts on goal increased, in the space of five minutes Mick Bradshaw had three efforts either saved or narrowly wide as the visitors finished the stronger of the two teams. BAC never dropped their work rate, but based on clear goal attempts Villa fully deserved their win against one of the strongest sides in the division.

Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers, Brown, O'Loughlin, Crombie, L.Conway, Kirkpatrick, Dunn, ( Bradshaw ) M.Conway, Pillay, ( Winstanley ) Shone, ( Thompson )