The win sees the Stripes move into 11th in the league table, and five points off the top five – with a game in hand on those above.

The hosts were the side who came out of the gates fastest, as Joe Bickerstaffe was called into a low save just seconds after the referee’s whistle.

FC St Helens quickly put some early doubt to bed as Barker netted his 100th club goal in all competitions on the 14th minute mark.

Nathan Corness was the man who made it happen, as he raced down the right flank to deliver into the area, with the number nine making no mistake with a sublime finish into the far corner.

Seven minutes later, the hosts could and should have equalised as they broke through one-on-one off the left flank; however, the chance was put wide of the far post.

In the 34th minute, Euxton had another chance to level the scoring after working the ball into the penalty area, this time from the right-hand side, but Bickerstaffe was astute as always to parry the strike point-blank.

Moments before the half, chaos broke out on the byline of the two dugouts as a two-footed follow-through saw Joel Darley sent off for the hosts, with manager Matthew Atherton subsequently being shown red also after making his feelings known to the referee.

Despite being a man down, Villa were the side giving FC St Helens much to think about after the second half whistle resumed play.

Ten minutes into the second half, a free header presented itself for Euxton at the far post, but the attempt was put wide of the woodwork.

In the 65th minute, a second for the Stripes looked destined after Corness used his pace to break free before cutting inside and sending his marker into the turf, with a bending shot into the far corner somehow being cleared off the line.

Bickerstaffe was the saviour again just moments later as he got a fingertip to another free header, denying an equaliser that was soaring towards the top right corner.

In the same minute, down the other end, a dubious decision by the officials saw the visitors’ scoring remain at 1-0.

The ball had initially been worked down the right flank, before Corness struck at goal but only as far as a defender, with the deflection falling for former Euxton man Josh Briggs, who sent the ball into the back of the net with a half-volley – but the linesman had called the referee over to say he had seen a hand used in the build-up, which the referee agreed with after awarding the goal initially.

After what seemed like an eternity for the travelling Stripes faithful, and some very brave defensive work as the hosts gave skipper Mike Fitzgerald and his back line much to do, the final whistle blew to confirm the win for Mike Smith’s side.