Perrywood 0 Fairfield Villa 1

FAIRFIELD Villa found themselves plagued with injuries as they edged past Perrywood in the Worcestershire Junior Cup first round on Saturday.

A goal by Spencer Kenwood made sure Villa booked their place in the second round.

However, injuries to Nathan Turner, Danny Williams and Richard Culson made life difficult for the Midland Combination Division One pace setters.

Management duo Lee Shaw and Paul Oakes were forced to rethink their plans when Williams pulled up with a twisted ankle in the warm-up before the game.

Turner had to be taken off in the sixth minute after he sustained heavy bruising after a tackle.

Villa, after all three substitutions had been made, then had to play with ten men after Culson broke a bone in his ankle and was forced to come off.

Shaw said: "We came away with quite a few bumps and bruises.

"It wasn't a dirty game and the players were unlucky to pick up knocks."

The only goal of the game came in the 25th minute when Stuart Hall beat players on the wing and sent in a probing cross, which Kenwood bundled in at the far post.

Shaw said: "We never looked like losing, but the injuries meant we couldn't push on a get a few more goals."

Culson is set to miss six weeks with his injury, while Williams and Turner will miss the Endsleigh Challenge Cup second round game at home to Polesworth North Warwick on Saturday, October 1 (2.45pm kick off).

l Villa have moved to the top of Division One after Handsworth had three points deducted.