Sentence:  Despite further attempts by Agbonlahor and Young, however, they could not find the goal to reward their endeavour./ It <WSD>mattered</WSD> little as Newcastle's challenge faded and Villa began to dominate the game in midfield, and it was only Barton's continued sense of injustice that offered the visitors any spark in a tame contest. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To be important. (from 16th c.)