FAIRFIELD Villa were beaten by the odd goal in seven in a thrilling encounter at Stockingford AA.

Cliff Hughes' side clawed their way back from 2-0 down to 3-2 up in last Saturday's Midland Combination division one clash before conceding twice in the last 16 minutes.

Villa were a goal down two minutes in when forward Andrew Lawrence headed the ball down for Wayne Hadley to score from 12 yards.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0. Villa's defence hesitated in defence and Paul Wilson fired the ball home.

The visitors pulled a goal back on 16 minutes when a Wayne Davies corner was headed home at the near post by Neil Gallagher.

Fairfield played their best football of the season for the remainder of the first half and had two great opportunities to score immediately after the re-start. Paul Matthews and Ray Peters both went close but home goalkeeper Mark Roper was equal to them.

The visitors equalised on 61 minutes, Matthews breaking down the left and crossing for Richard Whitlock to volley the ball into the net.

Three minutes later Villa were ahead when Ian Brown fed Peters who found Matthews in space and he put the ball past Mark Roper.

Lawrence headed the hosts level with 16 minutes to go and Stockingford scored the winner with five minutes left with Lee Wagner found himself unmarked at the far post.