Villa concede a late late equaliser - awarded by the referee despite Mick Wright appearing to clear the ball after it had hit both posts - to stop them clinching the title with two games to go. But with 66 points and a superior goal average to the only team that can equal them - Brighton - promotion is secured and so realistically is the title. 

A measure of the commitment of Vic Crowe’s team wasn’t hard to find, Geoff Vowden, barracked all season due to his connections with neighbours Birmingham scored the winner and celebrated like one of our own, whilst broken nose victim George Curtis delayed his operation to cover for the injured Chris Nicholl and led from the back throughout.

Villa, six points clear at the top of the table with two to play, will clinch the title if Brighton fail to win their game in hand.

Vic Crowe's Villa can only draw at Field Mill but Geoff Vowden's goal is enough to clinch promotion back to the second tier at the second attempt as Villa make it thirty wins, six draws and eight defeats in 44 division three games so far this campaign. Mansfield's late equaliser however prevented Villa being crowned champions but with two games remaining a single point would secure the title. 

Meanwhile, centre back George Curtis made his final appearance for Villa before retiring from football aged 32. George played for Villa between 1969-70 and 1971-72 making 58 appearances and scoring 3 goals.