BILLINGE New Street returned to League action with a fine 2-0 victory over Avon Villa on the Sutton Leisure 3G on Saturday.

With the Cheshire League fixtures being severely hit by the heavy rain over the week there were just two fixtures being played and New Street took advantage of this picking up three points.

The home team got off to a flying start with Ryan Thompson, Jordan Pilling and Jimmy Howard all going very close in the first ten minutes.

The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute when a great pinpoint cross from the right by Connon Simpson found the head of Martin Dearden - who gave the Villa Keeper no chance with a powerful finish.

The young Villa outfit came close six minutes later when the ball was threaded through the Billinge defence, but Bobby Graham's effort was tipped over the crossbar from Danny Still in The Storks goal.

On the half-hour mark Dearden saw his shot hit the foot of the post followed by a header from Jordon Hallwood which hit the crossbar.

Thirty-five minutes in and it was Dearden again who was causing problems down the right - and after beating two defenders he crossed the ball and found Simpson who rose superbly to head home.

Minutes later it was Simpson again picking the ball up in midfield and beating three defenders before seeing his effort hitting the post with the keeper beaten.

In the second-half the visitors tightened their defence and the Storks only had three good chances, a volley from Howard which just sailed over the bar and two great individual efforts from Mike O'Connor and Warren Gerrard.

With ten minutes left Villa applied the pressure and a great shot by substitute David Ewiwilem rattled the crossbar.

However, this was the only real scare and Billinge saw the game out for a 2-0 victory.

The man-of-the match award sponsored by SC Renewables went to Ryan Thompson for another accomplished performance at the back with special mentions to goalscorers Martin Dearden and Connor Simpson - who was also superb in midfield. Next week Billinge New Street make the long trip to Malpas in deepest Cheshire hoping to make it five wins on the trot.

Meanwhile, The Storks have been drawn at home to Liverpool Premier League premier division club Liverpool Nalgo in the second round of the County Cup.