MANAGER Paul Oakes believes Fairfield Villa will have a say in the promotion race after beating second placed Aston 3-1 at the Recreation Ground last Saturday.
John Pykett got the Bromsgrove side off the mark when he fired home inside the opening ten minutes before a strong start to the second half saw Connor Collins make it 2-0.
Aston hit straight back with a goal from Joe Parkes, but Fairfield secured victory when Dan Wilkes came off the bench to net the winner on the 77th minute.
This result follows Villa’s impressive performance away to Coventry United where they pushed the league leaders all the way before conceding three late goals to lose 6-2.
Oakes said their last two displays have demonstrated they are still in the promotion mix up in the Midland Football League Division Two.
“We are still seventh in the league, but we have now played all of the top five team in the league, so Coventry United and Leicester Road have still got to come to us,” he said. “So whatever happens we are going to have a big say in the matter.
“I don’t think a top four finish is out of the question, but it just depends on player availability.
“Although we lost 6-2 to Coventry United, the lads gave a really good account of themselves.
“I always go by what the opposition say and credit to them as they said we were the best team they had played this season.
“The test then was how we bounced back against Aston. They had beaten us 5-1 earlier in the season, but we got a few players back available to us and we put on a really good show.”
Seventh placed Fairfield now have a really good chance to push on as they face a trip to struggling Knowle on Saturday before hosting second bottom Droitwich Spa seven days later. But Oakes insisted they would not take anyone for granted.
“Knowle may not be in the higher echelons of the league, but believe you me it is a tough place to go,” he said. “The pitch is not the best and we know they will be prepared to scrap.
“I am expecting it to be a tough game and then we have got Droitwich who are scrapping for their lives.
“It is a game that we should win, but having said we are the only team to have lost to Coton Green who are bottom of the league, so we cannot take anyone for granted.”
