ASHVILLE fell to their second defeat in a week as they were defeated 2-0 by bottom side New Mills with the Villa now finding themselves languishing dangerously close to the North West Counties Division One South drop zone. 

The day didn't start well for Ashville who found themselves behind after just seven minutes after Harry Dean lost his marker for a tap in from six yards out for the hosts.

Despite an equal amount of possession, Villa looked the better side for large parts yet it took the away side 20 minutes to muster an opportunity on goal with Joe Dulson nodding the ball through for Peter Morgan who saw his effort saved by the legs of Joseph Oldham.

Morgan would make it two efforts in two minutes as Villa pushed for an equaliser, this time Parrington played the young winger through but once again Oldham was equal to the effort. The resulting corner would offer up Ashville's best opportunity of the half as a returning Ben Greenop rose highest at the back post but couldn't keep his header down.

That would be that for the first half but Villa wasted no time in trying to set the tempo in the second. Connor Courtnell was found at the back post from a deep free kick but saw his effort saved by the unflappable Oldham once more.

The next clear cut opportunity for either side came in the 71st minute when Peter Morgan and Lewis Moynes linked up on the right hand side before feeding substitute, Josh Maldon, who tried a curling effort but pulled it wide.

Two minutes later though, and Ashville were fighting for their lives down at the other end, Luke Merrill wading his way through Villa's left hand side before delivering a wicked ball across goal which came off Maldon and was goal-bound before it was cleared off the line.

With just under ten minutes to go and Oldham was forced into another brilliant save when he tipped over Parrington's effort from an Ashville corner.

The game was wrapped up with five minutes to go when a fluffed corner was somehow rescued by New Mills before the ball finally found its way to the back post where Chris Rogers was waiting to smash the ball home.

Villa would have one last good chance as a free kick found Maldon at the back post who did extremely well to reach the ball but saw his header come off the joint of crossbar and post and out for a goal kick.

And that's how it finished, two losses in a week for Ashville who now need to take advantage of a raft of games in hand, pick up points and start moving back towards mid table.

With 11 games to go Ashville are in a better position than it may seem right now but what is for certain is that the next four weeks are going to be one hell of a ride.