Thimblemill 2 Fairfield Villa 0

RELEGATION came a step closer for battling Villa as they slumped to their 18th defeat of the season on Saturday.

Defeat to their fellow relegation rivals saw them fall closer towards the bottom two in the Midland Combination Division One.

While Burntwood, who are directly below Villa in the table, were beaten 3-1 by Cadbury, second from bottom Newhall United seem to be Villa's main rivals to escape the drop.

Villa's relegation opponents, who have five games in hand over Fairfield, boosted their own chances of escaping the trapdoor by defeating Tipton Town Reserves.

On Saturday Villa never recovered from two first half goals.

Chairman Paddy Eades said: "The Thimblemill game encapsulates our season really.

"We just couldn't take our chances.

"If we could score more goals we would have a chance.

"We need Newhall to slip-up as they have a lot of games in a short time."