Villa beat York, albeit in an underwhelming showing, to record a fourth successive League victory and retain top spot with a five point lead over promotion rivals Bournemouth and a game in hand and now need just nine points to guarantee promotion back to the second tier of English football after two seasons away.

Villa face York City for the first time in competitive football, York become the 107th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football.

Vic Crowe's Villa make it four successive victories again to record twenty seven wins, five draws and seven defeats in 39 division three games so far this campaign. As a result, Villa remained well in control of the destiny of the third division title (played 39, points 59) with five point leads over Bournemouth (played 40, points 54) and Brighton (played 39, points 54).