THE number 13 proved to be anything but unlucky for Astley Villa.

After nine defeats and three draws in the opening dozen Division One fixtures, Villa's patient wait brought its reward with a first victory of the season by a 4-2 margin at Union Arms.

Goals came from Martin Lomas (2), Andrew Barratt and Andy Stevenson, with both for the losers coming from Barry Lowe.

The three points lifts caretaker manager Greg Guest and his side to just one behind next to bottom Courts A but more victories will be needed if the relegation trapdoor is to be avoided as Villa have played three more games than the other major relegation candidate.

The clash between third and fourth in the table lived up to expectations as a nailbiter with Leigh Avenue coming out 3-2 victors at Three Crowns A. Steve Hewitt opened the scoring after just four minutes with Craig Faulkner piling the agony on Crowns with a second on seven minutes.

The home side struck back with Greg Anderson scoring on the quarter hour and Mark Saunders levelling from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute. Eight minutes after the break Hewitt got his second and the goal that proved to be the clincher which leaves Avenue five points behind Crowns but with two games in hand. In the solitary Division Two game played Courts B took a four goal lead at home to Mechanics Arms through Steve Boardman, Anthony Davey, and Matt Disley with two. The visitors rallied to reduce the arrears with goals from S.Unsworth and Brian Seddon but the scoreline remained at 4-2.

Tomorrow sees the one remaining tie in the Redwaters Cup first round scheduled with Britannia, who inflicted a first defeat of the season on Higher Fold a fortnight ago, at home to Church Inn.

In round two Division Two leaders Atherton C&N look to reduce the number of top division sides left in the competition by one with Moonraker as visitors while another Division One outfit facing a difficult away trip to lower graded opposition is Union Arms who must travel to Howe Bridge Mills.

Higher Fold should have little difficulty at home to Courts A whose B team go into the home tie against Sir Charles Napier with more justifiable optimism than their stablemates. Limelight start favourites at home to Atherton Royals as do Hag Fold WMC at home to Horns Inn in the all Division Two clash.

On the league front Royal Oak could leapfrog leaders Higher Fold but the away trip to fourth in the table Leigh Avenue is no cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination. Astley Villa look to build on last Saturday's first win of the season with a home fixture against Three Crowns A.

In Division Two bottom club Asda Golborne travel to next to top Fir Tree Rangers while Mechanics Arms entertain Three Crowns B.