Aston Villa 1-2 Sheffield United
18/8/18, Boldmere, 7pm, Conti Cup
Goals – Hanssen
The first game of the season finally got under way with a Saturday night kick off. A game I didn’t think i’d be able to go to but thankfully I have some great work colleagues that made it possible for me to go to this match. The buzz was real before the game as a new season, a new manager and a new squad to gel together once again, Preseason didn’t mater as the season started. Tim Elsmore read the teams out and we got underway, Of course was gutted not to have Amy West in the squad do hope she isn’t out for too long.
Villa put on early pressure by countering an attack from Sheffield as the ball fell at the feet of Phoebe Warner, after some good pressure but as she hit it, it unfortunately didn’t land the right side of the crossbar. But a good way to start as you mean to go on. The game was fairly even with both teams not quite able to make the attempts and passes stick. Sheffield had a glorious chance which was spurned, a real let off for Villa at that moment in time as we wasn’t punished. Alison Hall looked lively as she managed to win the ball from the Sheffield defence with grit and determination but her shot didn’t quite have the venom as the goalkeeper got down to save the ball. Still a pretty even game at the 20 minute point with both teams having half chances and not quite getting the break of the play. Nadine Hanssen was putting herself about fighting hard in the middle picking up the first booking of the match, which is good to see she isn’t afraid to get stuck in but apart from that she showed her skill and couldn’t quite get the ball past the keeper into the back of the net. Our Achilles heel came back to bite us once again as another set piece lead to us going behind 5 minutes before half time, a goal from a corner that we didn’t deal with and Cox for Sheffield took advantage as she rose above our defence and put the ball into the back of the net making it 0-1 to Sheffield. Aoife Hurley was battling hard in the middle as well throughout to try and get the ball back for Villa and get us going forward. Set Pieces and Late Goals were the spawn of last season and came back to haunt us again at the end of the first half. We were down but not out and we had chances but it was just making them count.
Sophie Haywood came on at half time, someone I truly believe can break the curse of #17 at Aston Villa. She replaced Kerri Welsh who gave it her all in the first half helping us get on the attack but is still working on minutes and getting fitness back and will be a huge player for us when is back to 100%. Straight away Sophie wasn’t afraid to get herself into the action chasing the ball down and showing her skills and touch. The second half was going same way as the first until we lofted a corner in (not a short one yay) that broke and landed to Nadine Hanssen who slotted the ball away on her debut to pull the score back to 1-1 as we started singing Super Nad, Super Nad, Super Nadine Hanssen (her game management while on a booking and maybe final warning as well was brilliant) The game back all level and looked as if Sheffield were starting to blow a bit as we started to take over the game with the hustle from our midfield. Phoebe Warner was replaced by Alice Hassall after totally working her socks off, you will always get everything from Phoebe that is no doubt to a point that when she came off we missed her on the pitch alot. The game was getting back to a 50/50 spread as both teams attacked with pace through the wings leading to Elisha N’Dow to get a booking in a incident that should of seen both players get booked but for some reason only Elisha did. We pushed and pushed and tried to blow the house down but didn’t quite have the chance to score that elusive second goal. Jodie Hutton was caught in a heavy tackle and went down and when Jodie stays down you know something is wrong as we worried she did walk back but hopefully brought off just as a safe guard as she is a huge part of our season, I believe her mindset would make her play even with a broken leg but a wise decision to bring her off and protect her. Tanisha Smith came on her Aston Villa Debut in the first team, a player that has worked so hard over the years and done things the right way. We’ve seen Tanisha terrorise defences in the Development and know the skill and talent she has with strength and pace. We didn’t see or hear Beth Merrick come on or we would of given her a chant like we cheered for her when she was announced. But her battle with Hollie Gibson was a great one as both battled hard, again Hollie Gibson was great on the day defiantly a candidate for Player Of The Match as well. Hayley Crackle was pushing and pushing using skill and pace she has come back from America looking even more hungry and more strength and pace as she got down the wing and put the ball into a beautiful spot with no one there to get the important touch. 85th minute looking at a draw wouldn’t be too bad of a result and a terrible mistake in the midfield lead to putting Marsden through our defence as it left her one on one with Sian Rogers who did her best to try and stop the ball but wasn’t much she could really do as Marsden slotted the ball away making it 1-2 late on in the game. Late goals once again in a game we should of got something from but ended up losing, for me a substitute that didn’t make sense really changed the game.
It’s a hard pill to swallow when you lose any game late on but we always are proud of our team and will always be 100% behind them as the season goes on. We have some positives to take for defiantly and we are a young and fairly new team to each other so as the season goes on we will grow and become better if we could just sort out set pieces and late goals we will surprise a few people throughout the season. Our next game is a huge one as we have the midlands derby against Birmingham City in the Conti Cup at Solihull Moors on Sunday 26th August. This will be a dosey for sure we take on and challenge ourselfs against our local rivals from the higher division. Also alot on it for the fans as any Villa vs Birmingham game.
Sian Rogers – Made some important saves to keep us in the game, couldn’t be faulted for ethier goal nethier.
Hollie Gibson – Worked hard on the wing, made some important tackles to keep Sheffield at bay.
Elisha N’Dow – Wouldn’t be Lish if didn’t pick up a card, heart on the sleeve to give everything for Villa as always.
Hayley Crackle – Worked hard to get Villa up and down the wing and get balls into the box throughout the game.
Aoife Hurley – As always Aoife is in most of the action in the middle of the pitch trying to win the ball back with true grit.
Nadine Hanssen – Scored on her first team debut, got booked and showed alot of heart. Hopefully the start of something beautiful.
Phoebe Warner – Worked hard as always to try and make something happen in the middle of the pitch going forwards.
Kerri Welsh – Worked hard up front and will only improve as her game time and match fitness comes back to her.
Alison Hall – On another day might of added a goal to her game, but it just didn’t fall right for her on this night.
Ashlee Brown – For me the player of the match, worked so hard at the back to try and keep Sheffield United out.
Jodie Hutton – As always gives 110% all the way through had to come off even though she didn’t want to, hope she is ok as will be huge part of our season.
Sophie Haywood – Feel could become our biggest secret, pushed hard to win the ball back and get us on the front foot.
Alice Hassall – Came on to try and freshen up the midfield and give Villa so new legs in middle.
Tanisha Smith – Her first team debut, didn’t have alot of time but put herself about to try save the game for us.
