Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Aston Villa Women face Tottenham Hotspur at The Banks Stadium in the FAWSL as Aston Villa Men take on Arsenal at Villa Park in The Premier League, dual screens set up on a Saturday morning as we hope for 6 points. Up The Villa.
Photo from @AVWFCOFFICIAL on twitter
Villa open up on the front foot getting stuck in which feels a good start as we put the pressure on the spurs play as you can hear Marcus Bignot encouraging from the sidelines. Jodie Hutton wins the ball and drives Villa forward as she picks out Stine Larsen who plays the ball across to Diana Silva but Tottenham manage to clear the ball. The first 10 minutes it feels a different team with confidence, like the look of Stine Larsen up front her first touch already been shown. The first shot of the game comes from Kitt Graham as the ball deflects but Lisa Weiss has it covered on the 11th minute. The ball falls to Mana Iwabuchi on the edge of the area and she unleashes a rocket that flys into the opposite corner of the goal to give Villa the 1-0 lead on the 12th minute.
On the 17th minute a moment of warning for Villa as Angela Addison sees Lisa Weiss off her line and trys the cheeky chip but the ball thankfully goes wide of the target. As Asmita Ale crosses the ball it strikes the Tottenham player as handball is cried from the bench but without a replay very hard to say if it was or not. Asmita Ale looking so calm, confident on the ball going forwards and defending. Tottenham go close as a shot from the edge of the area takes a deflection as it goes just past the post, followed by a shot by Alanna Kennedy that soars over the bar. Mana Iwabuchi hits another effort but straight at the keeper after some good play by Asmita Ale once again. Nadine Hanssen does well to nick the ball in the midfield and tries her look as she has no options but it goes wide of the target.
This time it is Tottenham’s turn to appeal for a handball as the ball hits off Elisha N’Dow’s head out for a corner. Some sloppy defending on the 37th minute thankfully see’s the ball find Lisa Weiss as it remains 1-0. Villa defending well as Tottenham try to get back into the game as we enter the final 5 minutes of the half. A great ball into the box saw Jodie Hutton get the important header away but take a blow for her efforts but she thankfully is ok to continue after some treatment as the clock ticks down. Villa under pressure but dealing with it well as Alanna Kennedy once again smashes the ball wide of the goal as the half time whistle goes with Villa leading 1-0 through Mana’s wonderblast of a goal.
The Second Half gets underway and Tottenham trying to get back into it but Lisa Weiss comes out to punch the early cross. Villa don’t seem to of come out in the second half as luckily again the ball rebounds through to the hands of Lisa Weiss. The fast start for Tottenham seems to of been dealt with as Villa’s slow start to the half seems to be subsiding once again with direct play from Stine Larsen. Diana Silva receives treatment after a knock to the head but looks fine to continue as we approach the hour mark. A long range effort by Kitt Graham as it goes over the bar as Tottenham can’t break down the Villa defence so far.
Tottenham try to use the wings to get into the Villa box but Anita Asante uses her experience and body to block off the run. A bad back pass by Tottenham see’s Diana Silva nick the ball and take it around Aurora Mikleson who concedes a free kick on the edge of the box and a yellow card that could of easily been a red on the 65th minute. Mana Iwabuchi takes the free kick but gets it all wrong as it nearly goes out for a throw in. Villa now on top but can the second goal come to add a bit of a cushion as go into last 20 minutes. Stine Larsen has a knack of making something out of nothing with her Ariel presence as they have Spurs pinned in their own half.
Once again some great reading and positioning by Anita Asante broke up a Tottenham attack as we enter the final 15 minutes. Villa having to defend deep but doing well as they getting in some important blocks and clearances and a great take by Lisa Weiss. Stine Larsen still running and pushing Tottenham in the 80th minute with little she works so hard, the engine on her is fantastic. Natalie Haigh makes sure in the final 5 minutes that Tottenham can’t build anything as she is there to clear the ball not once but twice. Villa bring on some fresh legs to try and see out the game and once again it Stine Larsen that hustles the Spurs players in the final minutes. Lisa Weiss comes out to claim the ball and take as much time out of the 8 minutes injury time. Emma Follis holds the ball in the corner and we get closer to the final whistle. A moment to hold your breathe as an effort blazes over the bar for Tottenham in the 99th minute of the game. Lisa Weiss grabs the ball once again as the final whistle goes with Villa Women picking up the 1-0 win and also the men picking up the 1-0 win what a day!!
Up The Villa…
Photo from @AVWFCOFFICIAL on twitter
Substitutions For Aston Villa
Freya Gregory for Jodie Hutton (83)
Sophie Haywood for Nadine Hanssen (87)
Emma Follis for Diana Silva (90)
