HIGH flying Fairfield Villa remain right on the coat-tails of the Total Motion Midlands League Two leaders after eclipsing bottom side Earlswood Town 4-1.

Villa found themselves down to the bare bones with no less than eight players unavailable through injury and work commitments.

Spokesman Paul Oakes said: "It could have been a real banana-skin as we only had one fit player on the bench.

"We also had to tempt Lewis Smith out of retirement as he hadn't played for the past 18 months owing to knee injuries.

"As a result, Earlswood made the early running and should have scored but we kept at bay following a fantastic save from goalkeeper Josh Goddard.

"Josh wasn't troubled again until the last minute of the game when Earlswood scored a consolation".

Lewis Smith turned back the clock to score twice in the second half after Alfie Bloomer had fired Villa ahead with his 15th goal of the season.

Jarrad Hill then came off the bench, despite not being fully fit, to fire in the fourth goal.

Villa will want more of the same this Saturday when they entertain Earlswood (3pm kick off) in a return fixture at their fortress Recreation Ground where Villa remain unbeaten in the league having won 10 and drawn 1 of their 11 home games to date.