Premier Reserve League Play-off

Aston Villa beat Sunderland 3-1 at Villa Park to win the Barclays Premier Reserve League play-off.



Goals by Nathan Delfouneso, James Collins and Shane Lowry clinched the trophy for the home side with Martyn Waghorn replying for the visitors, writes Graham Hiley

The southern section winners fielded promising youngsters Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso who have already tasted first-team action while the Barclays Premier Reserve League North champions had only goalkeeper Nick Colgan with senior experience.

Aston Villa: Elliott Parish, Eric Lichaj, Shane Lowry, Jonathan Hogg, Ciaran Clark, Matthew Roome, Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan (Gary Gardner 86), Andreas Weimann (James Collins 52), Nathan Delouneso, Dominik Hofbauer (Chris Herd 85). Subs: Tobias Mikaelsson, David Bevan (gk).

Sunderland: Nick Colgan, Michael Kay, Blair Adams, David Meyler, Jean-Yves M'voto, Peter Hartley, Robbie Weir (Ryan Noble 74), Jordan Cook (Jamie Chandler 84), David Dowson, Jack Colback, Martyn Waghorn. Subs: Michal Misiewic, Niall, McArdle, Dan Madden.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Villa began brightly winning a corner inside 15 seconds as Bannan made a great run to the byline only for his cross to be turned behind by defender Adams.

Bannan's initial outswinger was cleared back to him and his chip back in was too long.

Weir let fly from 30 yards for Sunderland but the powerful drive flew over the bar on seven minutes.

visitors levelled

Hogg played a lovely ball up the right for Delfouneso to sprint past M'voto but the defender recovered his ground to block for a corner which Lichaj headed just wide.

An awkward left-wing cross by Adams was tipped onto the roof of the net by Parish.

Villa took the lead on 25 minutes when Delfouneso picked up the ball just inside the left corner of the area and clipped in a powerful shot which hit Hartley on the arm and the deflection caused the ball to curl away from the keeper and just inside the far right post.

However the visitors levelled just under three minutes later when Kay passed down the right for Waghorn who hit a thumping 12-yard drive. Parish got a hand to it but such was the power that he could only push it inside his near post.

The home side almost regained the advantage on the half hour when Albrighton's teasing right-wing cross dropped over the defence for Clark at the far post. His initial close range header was well saved on the line by Colgan who managed to block the follow-up prod.

Villa continued to have the better of it and Delfouneso hit a powerful low 30-yard drive which flashed just wide of the left post on 37 minutes.

Cook tried his luck from a similar range but Parish got behind it well a minute later.

Half-time: Aston Villa 1-1 Sunderland

Villa began the second half on the front foot with Delfouneso showing his blistering pace with a surging run down the left but Adams cleared the dangerous ball in.

Adams sprinted down the left as Sunderland broke immediately but Bannan tracked him well to close down the full-back.

Delfouneso was a constant threat and on 52 minutes he robbed Meyler and strode forward. He was not closed down and took the invitation to shoot from 20 yards, firing narrowly over.

Villa immediately sent on Collins for Weimann and Albrighton did well to head away a dangerous Sunderland cross.

Collins made an instant impact restoring Villa's lead just five minutes after coming off the bench - but the goal owed much to the good work of Albrighton.

His pinpoint cross from the right perfectly picked out the unmarked substitute who powered home a bullet header from six yards.

A stinging low 25-yard shot by Meyler was well turned around the post by Parish who went full-stretch to his left 67 minutes.

Sunderland replaced Weir with Noble 16 minutes from time. Bannan let fly from 25 yards but Colgan made a fine save to beat away the shot.

instant dividends

Collins made a strong run through the inside left channel, worked space for a shot but fired inches wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Seven minutes from time Cook had a goalbound shot deflected wide after the first of three successive corners had been headed out to him. the sequence ended with M'voto nodding narrowly wide.

The Wearsiders sent on Chandler for Cook with six minutes on the clock and Villa responded with Herd for Hoffbauer.

Again the switch paid instant dividends for Villa who wrapped up the title with four minutes remaining.

Lowry's wicked inswinging ball from the left looked like a cross for Herd who hurled himself full-length but failed to make contact and it crept just inside the far post.

Villa's third change saw Gardner replace Bannan. Albrighton had a shot blocked with Hogg firing too high. In stoppage time Gardner drove a 30-yard free-kick over the bar.

Full-time: Aston Villa 3-1 Sunderland