By Dan Harrison

Villa are on the verge of retaining the FA Premier Reserve League South title after goals from Gary Gardner and Jonathan Hogg sunk Fulham.

The Londoners edged a quiet first half with Elliot Omozusi and Danny Hoesen both going close.

Substitute Gardner lit up the game firing home a 70th minute free-kick with his first touch.

The visitors hit back almost immediately when Michael Uwezu pounced on a through ball to lob Elliott Parish.

But Hogg sealed victory for Kevin MacDonald's men with a 25-yard blockbuster. He collected a pass from Nathan Delfouneso, controlled and smashed it into the corner of the net.

The result means Villa will clinch the title if Tottenham fail to win at Stoke on Wednesday evening.

FT - Villa triumph again and they stand on the brink of retaining the Reserve League South title. If Spurs fail to beat Stoke in their next game, the league title is Villa's.

90 mins: Matthew Saunders has an effort from 20 yards for Fulham as they aim to salvage something but he miscues and it's nowhere near the goal.

89 mins: Collins looks to make the points safe. He muscles his way through the defence but the keeper is out to claim it from his feet.

88 mins: There's a bit of keep-ball going on from Villa as they aim to run down the clock.

84 mins: Let's hope Villa can see this out and take a step closer to retaining the title.

81 mins: GOAL - Not for the first time this season, it's a blockbuster from Jonathan Hogg. Delfouneso controls and sends a ball in-field to Hogg. One touch and bang, the midfielder finds the net from 25 yards.

79 mins: SUBSTITUTION - James Collins replaces Andreas Weimann for Villa.

78 mins: It's a corner for Villa after Albrighton sprints down the left. It's like a pinball machine in the box as the delivery is sent in but Fulham eventually hack it clear.

75 mins: GOAL - A long clearance forward and Michael Uwezu gets there first to dink it over Parish for the equaliser.

74 mins: Terrific ball from Albrighton from the left. He looks to pick out Salifou at the far post but the midfielder can't quite reach it.

70 mins: GOAL - Free-kick to Villa on the edge of the box after another Albrighton run. What a story! Gary Gardner steps up and bends it inside the far post with his first touch since coming on as a sub!

68 mins: SUBSTITUTION - Gary Gardner is on for Dominik Hofbauer in Villa's first change.

67 mins: Albrighton's corner is met by a flying header from Nathan Baker, which sails just over the top. 

63 mins: SUBSTITUTION - Lewis Thomas replaces Danny Hoesen for Fulham.

60 mins: Almost a wonder strike from Albrighton! A Villa cross was cleared, it comes back to the winger who controls on his knee and volleys towards the far post. It's inches wide.

59 mins: So close! Salifou slips in Albrighton inside the box. He fizzes one across the six-yard box from the right but again it evades several players.

56 mins: Fulham hit back quickly. Again Marsh Brown causes problems down the right. His cross is met by Chris Smalling who towers above the Villa defence but can't keep his header down.

54 mins: Another mazy run from Weimann. He picks his spot but it is just a bit too close to Foderingham who is down quickly to hold the shot. Possibly the best chance of the night from the home team. Silky stuff from Weimann.

53 mins: The game seems a bit more stretched now, though the deadlock is yet to be broken.

52 mins: Michael Uwezu pounces on a Villa error but snatches at his shot and it is wide of the post.

50 mins: Weimann begins to weave his magic. He shows quick feet to dance his way between two defenders and picks out Hofbauer with a cross-field pass. However, his fellow Austrian rifled a shot high and wide.

48 mins: Albrighton swings in a free-kick at an awkward angle for the Fulham defence but it's headed clear by Omozusi.

46 mins: Villa make a bright start to the second half. Hopefully they can make a breakthrough.

HT - Defences reign in the first half, though the better chances were for the visitors.

45 mins: At the other end, Hoesen motors through the Villa defence before shooting wide.

45 mins: It's all Villa at the moment but all credit to the Fulham defence who continue to repel their attacks.

42 mins: Much better from Villa. It's another Albrighton cross, again cutting in onto his left foot. Several players attack the delivery but Foderingham is out quickly and beats Hogg to the ball.

39 mins: Brave stuff from Omozusi. Baker absolutely hammers a shot from the edge of the box but the defender throws his body in the way to charge it down. Talk about taking one for your team!

37 mins: Villa look to apply some pressure from a throw-in. It eventually falls to Jonathan Hogg 25-yards out but his ambitious effort sails well wide of goal.

34 mins: Another decent chance for the visitors. Danny Hoesen muscles his way through but drags his shot wide from just inside the box.

32 mins: Matthew Roome makes an excellent block to stop Michael Uwezu's effort heading goalwards. 

29 mins: Best chance of the game so far falls to Fulham. Elliott Parish beats away Elliot Omozusi's thumping effort from a Marsh Brown corner.

28 mins: More wing wizardry from Albrighton. He cut in from the left and put in a searching ball across the box but it's just out of Hofbauer's reach.

26 mins: The defences are coming out on top so far. Both sides are attacking down the flanks but neither can force a way through. 

23 mins: Parish is forced to come out and punch clear a Courtney Harris cross from the left hand side as Villa withstand some pressure from the visitors.

21 mins: Marsh Brown swings in a decent cross for Fulham but it's headed clear by Baker.

19 mins: Good spell for Villa, who win a corner. Foderingham punched away Albrighton's delivery. Villa send it back in and Weimann sends a tame glancing header towards goal and it's comfortably for the keeper. 

15 mins: Hofbauer is fouled on the edge of the area just to the left. Albrighton strikes it right footed but it is straight at Wesley Foderingham in the Fulham goal.

13 mins: A brighter spell for Kevin MacDonald's men. Nathan Baker probes forward from the left-back position and sends a cross from deep into the area. Andreas Weimann connects but the header is well wide.

10 mins: A great Villa move. Moustapha Salifou picks out Marc Albrighton down the right and a dangerous looking cross from the winger evades everyone.

9 mins: Nathan Delfouneso gets into the game and causes problems for Elliot Omozusi before eventually conceding a foul. Good break from a wide position.

7 mins: There's a tentative midfield battle going on at the moment. Just the one chance so far.

5 mins: Dangerous moment for Villa. Keanu Marsh Brown crosses from the right and Courtney Harris fires wide with a first-time effort.

2 mins: Villa straight on the front foot but Fulham deal with the aerial threat.

Villa: Parish, Lichaj, Baker, Hogg, Clark, Roome, Albrighton, Salifou, Weimann, Delfouneso, Hofbauer. Substitutes: Collins (for Weimann), Bevan, Forrester, Blythe, Gardner (for Hofbauer).

Fulham: Foderingham, Laribi, Smith, Omozusi, Smalling, Saunders, Marsh Brown, Moscatiello, Uwezu, Hoesen, Harris. Substitutes: Bettinelli, Hall, Jones, Thomas (for Hoesen).