Coventry 0-9 aston Villa
The second game of the Continental Cup campaign for Aston Villa saw a trip to Barkers Butts Arena Park against local rivals Coventry United. Last season saw some close games before Villa got promoted to the FAWSL. Villa were using the whole squad with a short turn around from Sunday’s win over Brighton. The players lined up and the game was about to get underway.
Villa got the game underway with Nadine Hanssen as she kicked off. Villa didn’t click straight away as some sloppy defending and a misjudgment saw Coventry get the early corner. But it wasn’t long before Villa got in the lead when Diana Silva played the ball out wide to Marisa Ewers who pulls the ball back for Nadine Hanssen to slam home for 0-1 to Villa on the 7th minute of the game. It wasn’t long before Villa doubled the lead and so did Nadine as she netted her brace on the 10th minute. Asmita Ale hit a long ball that picked out Diana Silva who played in Emily Syme as she pulled it back to Nadine Hanssen in what was almost a carbon copy of the first goal as she slammed it home for 0-2. Aston Villa were in control of the game but Shannon O’Brien was working her socks off trying to pressure and force a mistake by the Villa defence. Natalie Haigh was working extremely hard and it was becoming an interesting battle on the pitch.
Villa were knocking on the door to try and make it 0-3 as a corner was met by Amy West’s header and as Liv Clark left it in the Coventry goal the ball struck the post in slo-motion. Diana Silva found Emma Follis who kept the ball alive and as she drove it into the box Emily Syme, finished with a sublime back heel into the net to make it 0-3 to Aston Villa on the 19th minute. Shannon O’Brien was keeping Villa honest at the back with constant running and pressure. Emily Syme played in Diana Silva and as Diana struck it you expected 0-4 but a fantastic save by Liv Clark kept the score at 0-3. It wasn’t long before it was 0-4 though with a melee in the box saw the ball break to Nadine Hanssen who slammed the ball home for a hatrick making it 0-4 to Villa on the 28th minute.
Coventry nearly pulled one back with a long range free kick from Anna Wilcox that looped towards goal and nearly caught out Lisa Weiss in the Villa goal as she tipped the ball over the bar behind for a corner. Coventry were still trying to create something but Villa were just to strong for them. Emily Syme nearly added to her tally but another great save from Liv Clark kept the score down, Which was followed by yet another great save by Liv Clark as Emily Syme played in Emma Follis who struck the ball fantastic as it headed goal bound a fingertip save stopped the score becoming 0-5. The first came was brought to an end with Villa fully in control of the game.
Photo from @AVWFCOFFICIAL on twitter
The second half started and Jodie Hutton had been brought onto replace Caroline Siems during the half time break. Marisa Ewers went close with a effort that goes just wide of the goal. It wasn’t long before Villa extended the lead too 0-5 though. Emma Follis was running in behind in the box and was taken out by Beth Merrick and the penalty was given. Emma Follis picked herself up and the ball up and stepped up to slam the ball home sending Liv Clark the wrong way on the 50th minute. The bright spark for Coventry was still Shannon O’Brien who won Coventry a corner out of nothing with her hardwork. Amy West was just about to pull the trigger when a perfectly timed tackle by Anna Wilcox saw the ball go behind for a corner.
0-5 become 0-6 when Nadine Hanssen became creater over scorer as she picked out Diana Silva who ran onto the ball and hit it home with a Fifa Esq goal. Villa were fully in control of the game as the score showed at this point in the game. Villa made a double substitution on the 64th minute with Elisha N’Dow and Marisa Ewers coming off for Anita Asante and Shania Hayles. A lack of concentration see’s a mix up between Anita Asante and Lisa Weiss as Shannon O’Brien looks to get the goal she deserves, But her effort clatters the post, so unlucky not to score as it stays at 0-6. Coventry upped their game a little and started to played a bit better with a little help as Villa seemed to switch off.
Diana Silva gets in behind and shoots with Liv Clark once again pulls off another good save but the ball falls to Shania Hayles as she drives the ball home to put Villa 0-7 up on the 71st minute. Some nice play by Villa leads to Emma Follis once again putting Liv Clark to work as she pulls off yet another save. But even Clark’s heroics for Coventry wasn’t enough as it was soon 0-8 as Shania Hayles doubled her tally with Diana Silva providing the assist on the 75th minute. Lisa Weiss was replaced in the 78th minute as Charlotte Clarke came onto to make her debut for Villa. Shannon O’Brien had given absolutely everything and ended up having to come off injured leaving Coventry to play with 10 in the final 12 minutes. The commentator kept teasing all game that we was going to get Jenna Roberts, but we never did which was gutting for sure. Diana Silva went close again as between Liv Clark and Hayley Crackle the ball was cleared. Emily Syme hit the back of the net once again, but this time it was the small training goal so the score remained 0-8. A pinpoint pass saw Shania Hayles be given offside, which was very close that you even saw Tom Stack calling for VAR in the background. It wasn’t the end of the scoring though as deep into injury time Shania Hayles became provider as she set up Diana Silva who slotted the ball home to make it 0-9 to Aston Villa Women.
Photo from Jeff Bennett on Flickr
Photo from @AVWFCOFFICIAL on twitter
Lisa Weiss – Kept clean sheet for second game in a row took a little knock in second half hopefully nothing to serious though
Asmita Ale – As always a player beyond her years making sure that Coventry couldn’t build and push her back towards goal.
Elisha N’Dow – Worked hard at CB to protect clean sheet, but was so good to see Elisha as a wing back like when first saw her play.
Natalie Haigh – Solid at the back as always, big part of dealing with Shannon O’Brien and keeping Coventry out.
Caroline Siems – Came in late for Ella and put a good shift in for the first half before she was replaced in second half.
Nadine Hanssen – Hatrick hero and could of had a few more on a different day, not only her goals but her vision was impressive.
Marisa Ewers – Captain for the night. Worked hard in the middle of the pitch to make sure Villa were on the front foot.
Amy West – Amy worked and worked and was so unlucky not too get a goal. Came close on many times without finding the net.
Diana Silva – Looked dangerous everytime Villa attacked if she wasn’t on the ball she was running in behind. Deserved her two goals could of had more.
Emily Syme – Pure class, knows how to put a show on while not showing off. Got a goal with a classy back heel finish into the net.
Emma Follis – Never stopped running and being an outlet throughout the game. Deserved her goal from the penalty spot as well.
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Jodie Hutton – Jodie came on at half time and as always gave it everything and left nothing on the pitch after the final whistle.
Anita Asante – Anita came onto freshen up the legs in the second half and helped Villa towards a second clean sheet and win.
Shania Hayles – Shania doesn’t need 90 minutes to prove what a player she is nearly got her hatrick from the bench but got two goals.
Charlotte Clarke – Came on for her Aston Villa debut with 12 minutes to go and didn’t have alot to do in the final minutes of the game.
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Keeping up a 100% record in this years Continental Cup after a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United and now a 0-9 win over Coventry United it leaves Aston Villa Women in a very good place to get through to the next round and maybe go futhur that last years history making campaign. Things seem to be starting to click for Aston Villa with a second clean sheet and goals coming from all over the pitch. 11 goals, 2 wins and 2 clean sheets see them leading into the Midlands Derby in the FAWSL as Aston Villa host Birmingham City at Villa Parkon Saturday 14th November with a 2.30pm kick off.
A huge game where for the first time the two meet in the top flight of FAWSL. Two sets of fan’s that will be looking forward to this fixture but from home as we still are unable to have fans in the ground.
