9/9/18, 3pm, Boldmere, Championship

How to start of a report of a professional team against a part time team, I can’t be mad at Man United for their plans and the goal they are aiming for but how they are in a part time league with full time players is still beyond me. It was nice to see a crowd over 1,100 people seeing our Ladies play the second biggest crowd since we played against Watford at Villa Park. The ground was buzzing before the game and I do hope the people that had come down to see Villa for the first time saw the effort, dedication and the team for what they truly are and we see them back at Boldmere for Durham at home and so on. A sunny day saw the festivitys kick off and as the teams were read out we began singing and we didn’t stop until least 10 minutes after the game. We love and adore our team no matter the result, no matter the score. We are truly proud of our team and will always be 110% behind them, this is something that just needs to be said before we get into the game. Every single person that puts on the Claret and Blue is a legend to us and we love to bits.

Onto the match… Manchester United started off maybe a bit nervy as the first 10 minutes were controlled by Villa as the ball fizzed across the box and unfortunately just out of reach of our attackers that was working so hard and so well together to try and create something early on. Unfortunately we was punished by Manchester United on the 10 minutes mark as a shot was hit and as Sian Rogers tried to save it the ball deflected in leaving her no chance to save the ball making it 0-1. Villa didn’t let this phase them as a few minutes later Ashlee Brown made Chamberlain pull off a save in the Manchester United goal after some great work by Aoife Hurley (her work effort is incredible every single game), as well as provider Aoife Hurley also even had a dig at goal but didn’t connect with correctly unfortunately but it was showing we was still in the game and working hard. Just as we was building some pressure a wonder strike by James saw Manchester United make it 0-2, it was a incredible shot that left Sian Rogers no chance at all. A couple of minutes later Manchester United made it 0-3 as Sigsworth used her pace and strength to break through and slot the ball into the back of the net. Again a few minutes later a penalty was given, I can’t comment if was or wasn’t but Villa twitter said it was a coming together in the box that Zelem slotted away to make it 0-4 to the visitors. Followed 5 minutes later by Sigsworth again who went past our defence leaving Rogers no chance once again making it 0-5. And again 2 minutes later Sigsworth had her hatrick as the ball broke nicely for her but she showed her strikers instinct and she put the back into the back of the net making it 0-6 to Man United. 5 goals in 13 minutes had turned this game but our players heads didn’t drop as we tried to fight back and create something on the pitch with our Ladies working hard to get into half time with the score still at 0-6.

The second half started with a great save by Rogers once again in the Villa goal saving it from a one on one break. But as Sigsworth broke through the defence again in the next attack she scored her 4th goal of the game making it 0-7 with Hanson adding a 8th for Man United on the 55th minute. We didn’t give up as we tried to create something with Alison Hall getting in behind the defence but the ball just didn’t have enough fizz to get on the scoresheet. Just before the hour mark as we started to again build a little bit of pressure Man United added a 9th as Hanson got her second of the game with a low shot. 3 minutes after Sigsworth had her 5th of the game again couldn’t fault Rogers for any of the goals in the 0-10 scoreline. But again bouncing back from conceeding Jodie Hutton created a chance of her own great play that made Chamberlain pull of a smart save in the Man United game. Once again right after a chance for us Man United made us pay as Green hits a half volley into the Villa net making it 0-11. 2 minutes later Ella Toone scored from a great save once again by Sian Rogers in the Villa goal that she had tipped onto the post but Toone put away the rebound. Again in the space of 20 minutes Man United had added 6 goals making the scoreline top heavy in their favour. Again it’s 0-12 but Villa showed their heart and determination as Kerri Welsh nearly got herself on the scoresheet but her shot just curled the wrong side of the post as we went close to getting the goal we had deserved. Our girls didn’t give up as they battled till the end of the game showing some real heart and togetherness as the game ended 0-12 with Man United not able to break down our defence for the last 20 minutes of the game.

The game ended 0-12 and it showed the difference between professional and part time as alot of the games will do this season. I can’t fault our girls one single bit, we played Man United on a day where everything they touched was gold and they punished us with classy finishing, Man United have international players and WSL 1 stars from last season and this showed on the pitch. The fact that we didn’t even see our star player from last year Ebony Salmon tells you something about the talent levels that Man United have. It was an exhibition match in my eyes but I couldn’t be prouder of the team and our songs never had so much meaning as today as we wanted to show our love and admiration for the team and the club. Our season really starts when we play Charlton away but we have a very tasty Conti Cup trip coming up against Leicester City which I can’t wait for next week. Leicester will be a tough test but a more fair test as we will have a great game against them. We get to see our old player Maddy Cusack which can never be a bad thing, anyone who knows my story of finding Villa Ladies will know Maddy was a huge part of the reason I love and adore my team so much. The scoreline is irrelevant to me, the effort and lesson we take from today is the main thing. and also the love I have for my team. I know as our little band spoke we all mirror this feeling as we move onto play Leicester City on Sunday 16/9/18 at Quorn FC in the Conti Cup. To the fans who made the journey out for their first Villa Ladies game I do hope they return to support this great team and bunch of Ladies. Also it was so great to have a few people come sing with us including a little visit from our manager Gemma Davies, Mom that joined us to sing and cheer on the team.

NOTHING BUT LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OUR LADIES IN CLARET AND BLUE WE GO AGAIN SUNDAY

Usually in this section I would do a breakdown on the team and how they preformed but one thing I want to comment on instead of anything else and that simply is the heart of our team. In a game that was unfair from the get go playing a team full of internationals and full time players in a part time league, our girls gave everything they possibly could on the pitch. The first 10 minutes we was the team on top, Man United didn’t score in the last 25 minutes of the game as much as they tried to. Football is a result business but to me its much more than that because if their is effort on the pitch and your players give everything they can, then how can you not adore and support the team even through the bad spells. Villa Ladies gave 110% in a game that was unevenly balanced and for me the only thing that mattered in this game was the heart and the effort. It’s hard to take when you know how it effects the players but this will build heart and we will show what we are made of in the upcoming games. One thing happened today and that is my love for the team grew even more because in the darkness of the game the players didn’t argue, didn’t give up they simply bonded together and tried to make the best out of the situtation. Nobody want’s to lose but in what was an exhibition game really, our girls did us proud.

Player Of The Match

Sian Rogers

You really have to feel for Sian because if you was simply to look at the scoreline you wouldn’t understand why, but she kept the score down and wasn’t at fault for any of the goals. We came up against Manchester United on a good day for them. International and full time players taking on our part time girls. Sian as always pulled off some great saves and came to claim the ball when needed too.