TOWN appeared to have the toughest assignment out of all four Yorkshire clubs remaining in the fourth round of the FA Cup when they travelled to Villa Park.

Aston Villa, seven-times winners of the Cup - a record superior to that of any other club in the country - and on their own ground, were again much fancied to enhance their reputation.

But the Town men and the 5,000 West Riding people who journeyed to cheer them on were in fine spirits for this, the fifth Cup meeting between the two sides.

At the railway station many inquirers were turned away disappointed - the 800 seats on a Cup-tie special had been snapped up days before.

Town's Pat Saward, who skippered Villa to promotion two years previously, had telegrams of good wishes waiting for him at the dressing room.

He was made captain for the day and there was a great ovation as he led the visitors onto the field.

Town had the edge in the first half and packed plenty of speed and enthusiasm into their movement.

Unfortunately, though, they had no luck.

Town had the ball in the back of the net early on when Michael O'Grady raced in to seize on a loose ball and crashed it into the net.

But Town's cries of joy turned to disappointment when the referee signalled `no goal' after Les Massie was caught offside.

Then, against the run of play, Town met with a setback in the 16th minute.

Villa gained a corner on the right which Jimmy McEwan flighted across the face of goal and Alfie Hale fired in a hard rising shot which Ray Wood got his fingers to but could not prevent from crashing into the roof of the net.

Town hit back defiantly and Jimmy Kerray, Town's most dangerous forward so far, worked desperately hard to force his colleagues into the picture but twice Kevin McHale spoiled promising retaliation by hanging on that little bit too long.

Town kept pressing and equalised on 69 minutes when McHale shot through to send the Town contingent roaring with delight, but it didn't last as Vic Crowe netted the winner just two minutes from time.

Villa boss Joe Mercer said afterwards to Town boss Eddie Boot: "You're lads should have walked it."

Town - Wood, Atkins, Wilson, Saward Coddington, Dinsdale, McHale, Kerray, Stokes, Massie, O'Grady.