Sam Williams fired Villa back to the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League (south) as he bagged the winner in a hard fought derby clash.

The 20-year-old has missed much of the season through injury, but marked his first start with a stunning first-half strike.

There could have been more goals in an entertaining Villa Park clash, but the one was enough and Villa are now two points clear of second-placed West Ham with two games in hand.

Schmitz cut out a right-wing centre from Routledge inside the first minute. Clark headed wide from Berger's resulting corner.

Taylor saved from O'Connor on six, diving to his left to palm a low shot around the post.

Bannan came close to opening the scoring two minutes later, cutting infield as he met a cross field ball from Salifou and sending a curled effort just inches past the post.

Birmingham keeper Doyle raced off his line to beat the onrushing Salifou on 12.

Williams, making his first reserves start of the season, headed wide from Lowry's left-wing cross a minute later.

De Ridder produced a surging run from his own half on 16, but fired high into the Holte End from the edge of the box.

Routledge produced a powerful run down the right on 20, but Joyce slid the ball behind for a corner.

Williams opened the scoring on 22 as he met Berger's searching ball on the edge of the box, turned and fired into the roof of the net.

The impressive Bannan curled narrowly wide again as he met Knight's angled ball on 27.

Jervis might have levelled matter from the edge of the box on 28, but fired wide under pressure from Clark.

Williams was unable to direct a low centre from Routledge goalwards on 31. Doyle then pounced on the loose ball.

De Ridder almost levelled on 32, but was denied by Taylor. Bannan then cleared by audaciously nutmegging De Ridder and launching the ball upfield.

Jervis was gifted a golden opportunity on 36 as he intercepted Taylor's weak clearance ten yards out, but sliced a low effort wide.

Salifou's long range effort was blocked by Taylor on 39 as Villa looked for a second.

Doyle cut out Lowry's left-wing centre on 40 as Williams arrived at the far post.

Newbury tested Taylor with a dipping 30-yard effort a minute later that the Villa keeper did well to tip over the bar.

A scrappy start to the second-half saw both sides making unforced errors.

Taylor and Lund combined to deny Jervis on 52.

Doyle palmed Berger's curling free-kick around the post on 54; Lowry prodded wide from the subsequent corner.

Osbourne sent a low left-foot drive straight at Doyle on 57. Salifou then fired into the Holte End as he turned on the edge of the box.

Academy skipper Clark did well to block Newbury's low drive on 70.

Schmitz headed over from close range as he met De Ridder's corner on 75.

Routledge might have doubled Villa's lead on 78, but was denied by Doyle who deflected a low drive behind.

Knight's clever back-heel was then cleared off the line before Doyle tipped a dipping effort from Bannan over the bar.

Doyle bravely dived at Osbourne's feet on 83 as the midfielder chased Berger's through ball.

Taylor dived low to his left to deny De Ridder on 88. The Dutchman sent a free-kick over the bar two minutes later.

Routledge volleyed wide from Bannan's left-wing centre in stoppage time.

VILLA: Taylor, Lund, Lowry, Osbourne, Knight, Clark, Salifou, Routledge, Williams, Bannan, Berger. Subs: Collins (for Williams 66), Bevan, Baker, Albrighton, Hofbauer.

Birmingham: Doyle, Rutter, Joyce (booked 53), Schmitz, Taylor, De Ridder, Aydilek, Sammons, Newbury (booked 24), O'Connor, Jervis. Subs: Butland, Sheldon (for Jervis 75), Rowe, Milojevic, Hubbins (for Aydilek 90).