By Aston Villa FC

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace played out an incredible 4-4 draw at Bodymoor Heath in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Friday night. 

Kaine Kesler, Charlie Farr (2) and Carney Chukwuemeka were on target for Mark Delaney's side, but Palace responded with four goals of their own through John-Kymani Gordon, Harlem Hale, Brandon Aveiro and Jude Russell.

The home side started well with Jaden Philogene-Bidace looking lively on the left-hand side, but the opening goal came from the Villa right-back.

Farr's free-kick was struck well and Jacob Russell could only palm it to the feet of Kesler, who made no mistake with the rebound to open the scoring after 16 minutes.

Chukwuemeka was then desperately unlucky to strike the crossbar seven minutes later with a curling set-piece.

Gordon equalised for Palace on the half-hour mark but Villa went back ahead just before the break, with Farr getting his first of the night following another error from the away goalkeeper, admittedly in difficult conditions. 

After ending the first period so well, Villa were pegged back within a minute of the second half, with Hale's header beating Filip Marschall to make it 2-2.

Farr grabbed his brace with a clincal finish on the hour and Villa took control of the game, adding a fourth goal with nine minutes remaining when Chukwuemeka curled an effort brilliantly into the top corner.

To their credit, Palace battled back and made it 4-3 moments later when Aveiro found the net, before Russell got the equaliser with just three minutes left to play.

There was still time for another chance and Villa were inches away from a winner when Kesler's shot was deflected wide of the target in stoppage time.



Aston Villa: Marschall; Kesler (C), M. Sohna (S. Revan 78'), Bogarde, Chrisene; H. Sohna, Chukwuemeka (Raikhy 90'); Farr, A. Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace (Tait 61'); Young.

Substitutes: Onódi, Walker.

Crystal Palace: Jacob Russell; Imray (D. Boateng 46'), Jude Russell, Siddik, Hannam (C); Taylor, M. Boateng (Giddings 80') ; Hale, Matthews (Aveiro 66'), Omilabu; Gordon.

Substitutes: Goodman.