Aston Villa 4-0 Coventry United
Part three of Aston Villa Vs Coventry United this season with each team picking up a victory and 9 goals in the previous two at Barkers Butts Arena. We made our way to our little section and got ready as the teams walked out on a sunny yet chilly day. Not something you see too often but Coventry switched to play the other half and it was game time as the referee blew the whistle to get underway.
The first wave of play was fairly even as both teams tried to get on the ball and create something going forward. But as always it was Sophie Haywood that lit the touch paper as Shania Hayles broke up the wing smashing the ball across the box but the Coventry Keeper, Sue Wood read the play. On the 11th minute Villa won a corner and Emma Follis lofted it into the area Jade Richards rose like we have seen her done so many times in the past and headed the ball into the back of the net. Villa 1-0 up and starting to get control of the game. It wasn’t long before Shania Hayles was going to stake her claim on the ball as Coventry shook from the first goal passed it to Emily Syme who didn’t need a second chance. As she weaved her way through the defence she picked out Shania Hayles running through and.. Well it’s Shania so you know the ball hit the back of the net and Villa took a 2-0 need within a minute or so.
The melee of goals wasn’t about to come as the game started to settle down and Coventry’s tried to use Shannon O’Brien and Amber Hughes to create the attacks. The battle between Shannon O’Brien and Natalie Haigh was fantastic throughout the game for me. But it was Villa once again who made Coventry pay as they hit on the counter attack and after a blocked shot Emma Follis picked out Shania Hayles who…. Yeah she scored once again getting her second of the game and putting Villa 3-0 up on the 25th minute. Again Shannon O’Brien and Natalie Haigh were battling on the pitch and Naughty Nat was talked to the referee after a few words with Shannon. But once again the player of the half so far for Coventry as she broke in behind Villa’s defensive line on the 43rd minute but as she whipped the cross into the box no one was there to help her fantastic work. Another fantastic battle on the pitch was Sophie Haywood Vs Ffion Morgan throughout the game, for me Sophie is one of the most in form players in the Championship and Ffion did well to slow her down when possible but it was a brilliant battle. The half time whistle went with Villa in total control at 3-0 up.
After Eni Aluko came over to introduce herself to the rabble in the corner. And signing for Jenna “TwentyGr8” at half time it was time for the game to kick off for the second half and the ending 45 minutes in the trilogy.
Coventry came out the more hungry team as they was chasing the game and maybe Villa might of been thinking the work was done. After taking a clattering tackle Emma Follis was replaced on the 62nd minute by Melissa Johnson and it took immediate effect as Mel was driving the Coventry defence backwards from the second she stepped on the pitch. Shannon O’Brien was still trying to put Villa under pressure and caught Sian Rogers and picked up a booking for the challenge as she tried to nick the ball of Sian in the Villa goal.
It was less than 5 minutes on the pitch and with Melissa Johnson now driving us forward and Elisha N’Dow on the hunt for a goal it wasn’t going to be long before we picked up a 4th goal and who else would it be apart from Shania Hayles who netted to get her hatrick with the allotment’s having a fire behind, not sure if Shania was causing that to keep catching fire with the sparks flying off her. Villa were 4-0 up in the 67th minute and the game gone from Coventry but in honest it never looked in any doubt during the game. Shannon O’Brien took a knock which forced her off the pitch trying to win the ball, but she gave everything the old Villa RTC player put a real shift in, so hope it isn’t anything serious. When Shannon went off the pitch it seemed to lose all attacking play for Coventry as Villa hunted for the 5th goal and it nearly came on the 74th minute. Amy West doing West things were she picked out Melissa Johnson and just as she was about to pull the trigger and make the net bugle Sue Wood once again got down to stop another goal coming in the game for Villa. Sophie Haywood had put her boot down on every inch of the Boldmere pitch and was replaced on the 74th minute by Kerri Welsh.
Elisha N’Dow really wanted a goal as she was switched to RB which became RM, then RW, then RF someone who never ever seems to run out of energy and running. But the goal will come real soon I’m sure it will before the end of the season. Not alot happened at the end of the game as Villa had won the game and tried a few different things to find the 5th but it wasn’t to come. The final change came on the 87th minute as Shania Hayles left the pitch to a well deserved round of applause and also to stop the fire brigade coming out to put out her fire. Shania was replaced by new signing on her debut Sophie Maierhofer who got a run out in the centre of the pitch and something we will see more no doubt before the end of the season. She fitted straight into the middle and moved the ball well and looked to link up with Melissa Johnson and Kerri Welsh in the final minutes. The game finished 4-0 to Villa as they went 3 points closer to winning the Championship and looking towards The FA Super League next season. But still alot to do in the final remaining games. Aston Villa Women now don’t play until 22nd March which is 3 weeks away but could have a game fitted in between with Durham away needing to be rescheduled after Storm Ciara. Nadine Hanssen missed out on the squad and was truly missed on the pitch but fantastic to see her running around still smiling after the game.
