Football
Fairfield's winning run goes on

FAIRFIELD Villa will bid to complete a quickfire double over FC Glades and stretch their winning run to nine games tomorrow when the sides meet for a second consecutive Saturday in Midland Combination Division One.

Stuart Hall scored the only goal on Saturday as Villa continued their incredible run of form that sees them sitting joint top of the table, in second place only to Hampton on goal difference.

Manager Paul Oakes insists he sees no reason why his side cannot keep themselves in the battle for top spot up until the end of the season.

“I do realistically think it is a possibility,” he said.

“There is a top six developing and where we finish could very well depend on our results against those sides around us between now and the end of the season.

“We haven’t always had the best records against sides at the top of the table in the last few seasons so we will need to put that right but we have a good squad with good depth to it and obviously I’m hoping our run continues for as long as possible.

“What we have been able to do well this season is replace players who have moved on with more quality and having the right people in the right positions is key to forming a good side.”

Suffering with depleted numbers, Villa welcomed Nigel Adams and Brendon Hicks back to the club and they made a bright start with Hall looking lively whilst James Burke and Keiron Evans were controlling things in midfield.

Villa went ahead from their first real attack of the game as Hall and Adam Pillinger combined well for the former to fire home with his left foot.

Brendon Hicks, Pillinger and Hall all went close to adding to the lead before the break but Villa had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Continuing to impress in the second half, Villa almost doubled their lead through Hicks and Evans but Glades fired a warning shot when hitting the bar twice in quick succession.

That was to be as close as they came though as Villa held on to pick up yet another three points.

“We played some tremendous football and on another day could have had plenty more goals,” Oakes said.

“I’m really pleased with how things are going at the moment and extremely so due to the two clean sheets we have kept in the last two games.

“Neil Leach has been an outstanding signing for us in goal whilst James Cund and Lewis Cosgrove are developing a brilliant understanding together.

“We’ll probably mix things up a bit and bring some fresh legs in tomorrow which hopefully will help us collect another victory.”

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