Conti Cup, 17/9/18, 2pm, Quorn FC

Goals – Welsh

Our third Conti Cup game saw us travel to Quorn FC to play Leicester City who had already beaten Bristol City and Crystal Palace this season as we looked for our first Win of the season. We always knew it would be a tough game as Leicester are a growing and improving team. As we turned up to Quorn FC, the ground itself was very nice setting for a game and the Leicester staff were welcoming and wanting to interact (this again is something that maybe doesn’t always get the credit it should do but it adds to the matchday experience so again if you reading this and you support Leicester go down and give your team the support they deserve) As we sat down in the bar looking at the team when it was announced on twitter I couldn’t help but be excited and happy as it was such a young and upcoming team with the experience and pace that we needed to make a statement. Always Evie Gane would be making her debut for Villa. 5 of the starting 11 players in this game had played for the Development team the season before which tells you exactly what we are trying to create at Villa Ladies and today showed what an incredible future we have. The average age of our starting line up was so young but they showed the wealth of experience on the pitch. It was also so nice to be at full strength in the band as well as we all turned up to get behind the girls and sing out for the Claret And Blue.

To the game itself we came out the blocks fast putting pressure on Leicester as we staked our claim in this game as straight off the kick off we pushed forward and whiped a great cross into the box but Leicester managed to clear the ball as well as Leicester created a chance but Aja was on hand to claim the ball. Villa started to put together some more attacks but couldn’t quite get the ball to fall in front of goal but as we started to put more and more pressure on as Kerri Welsh smashed the ball into the net making it 0-1 to the Villa as Kerri ran length of the pitch to go and celebrate with her bench (anyone that knows the history it is always so amazing to see Kerri score for us as she has had some right terrible luck with Injuries). After the goal Leicester tried to immediatly hit back but as Villa worked so well on and off the ball they couldn’t quite get it going but as Domingo managed to work a shot Aja Aguiree was on hand to make the save to keep them out. Villa gave away a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions but Roise Axten wasted both putting them high and wide each time. Evie Gane as all game got the ball back and drove forward and as it opened up she hit the shot making the Leicester keeper make the save putting it behind for the corner. On the 41st minute I celebrated us going 0-2 up lol. Nadine Hanssen worked so hard to win the ball back and get it out to Asmita Ale who had been fantastic all half, Kerri Welsh hit a beautiful shot that looked like it was going in (As I celebrated haha) but it went barley wide but we continued to create and come close to doubling our lead. The half time whistle went as we went in 0-1 in an impressive half. A great 45 minutes where we had dealt with what Leicester threw at us and also had created chances with some great play as well. A big 45 minutes was needed to back up the first 45.

Within the first 5 minutes of the second half we scored twice for both to given offside one was very close when Kerri Welsh broke through and one was totally onside as Jodie Hutton came from behind the defender to go around her but again great signs for Villa as they put the pressure on Leicester and didn’t let this bother or stop them. Leicester started to build a bit of pressure again as Domingo was always a threat but couldn’t get the ball on target as our defence and midfield was always there to put the pressure onto the attacks as they tried to set up and shoot. On the 67th minute Leigh Dugmore went down causing the penalty to be awarded, couldn’t tell you if was definatly a penalty as we was other end of the pitch but knowing Dugmore she wouldn’t go down without contact as she is a very physical player and honest player. Ayisi put the ball on the spot as we started to chant for Aja hoping we could help her but it was even better than could hope for but we always knew that Aja does incredible things between the posts. As she saved the Penalty but as it broke back Aja sprung from outta nowhere again saving the ball with an incredible reaction save. Was she done there NO, as the ball fell to a Leicester player once again she pulled off a third incredible reaction save keeping her clean sheet and Villa at 0-1 up in such an important time of the game. On the 69th minute we made our first sub as Sophie Haywood came on for Tanisha Smith, who was so impressive through the whole game and deserved her song as she walked off the pitch. Aja wasn’t finish nethier as managed to keep out Leigh Dugmore as her shot looked threatening on the 75th minute. On the 78th minute Alice Hassall replaced Aoife Hurley who had run herself into the ground for the team as she does every single game but as she had picked up a soft booking earlier in the game it made total sense. Villa dealt with the game management so well as we held Leicester from creating to much in the dying minutes as our girls started to tire but they never stopped and never slipped. A later corner was whipped into the box but once again Aja came out like Superwoman to collect the ball and save anything from coming of it. In the dying minutes so great play by Sophie Haywood and Alice Hassall saw the ball break through to Phoebe Warner who pushed forward and just couldn’t get the connection on the shot she would of desired as the Leicester keeper collected the ball. Villa tried to counter the Leicester attacks late on but the score remained 0-1 as we managed the game so well and walked away with the points and clean sheet that we truly deserved.

It’s hard to sometimes write about something to explain it when you are so proud of your team and feel that love and admiration that you wish to convey in words but as that final whistle went and you saw the smiles and joy on our players faces. They deserved it so much and worked so hard to get the victory they deserved. The difference from playing Man United to playing a team that actual should be in our league was huge but after all the bad comments online and rubbish I seen from people that don’t have a clue. Our team picked themselves up and dusted themselves off and showed the world what they can truly do and what we know our team is capable of. Such a young team pulled off an experienced performance . We move back into the Championship for our next game as we play against Charlton away on Wednesday 19th with a 7.45pm kick off. None of us can make the game unfortunately with it being the other side of London on a weeknight but we will be with them in spirit and following twitter updates hoping they can build upon our first win of the season. We will be ready to play Sheffield United away though on Sunday 30th to get behind the team and cheer them on once again.

Aja Aguirre – On this week of Aja Saves, once again incredible in the goal keeping her clean sheet after a penalty save, an two more incredible saves in the one piece of play that followed. Worked as sweeper keep to come out and clear the ball. Caught everything that came into the box with great confidence.

Asmita Ale – Incredible as always, Asmita never fails to impress whenever she plays. Stopped everything that Leicester threw at Villa down the wing, tracking back with confidence and read the game so well.

Jade Richards – Our fearless captain is always top notch and today was nothing else short of this as she was solid at the back, everything that came into the box she dealt with and cleared her lines.

Ria Elsmore – If you was to pick three words on Ria’s performance it would be Composed, Confident and Class. Made some incredible last ditch tackles and blocks to keep Villa’s clean sheet.

Evie Gane – Pure class, making her debut but looked liked she had been part of the team for years already, pacey and so calm on the ball. Not only did she defend but also got in a few shots. Looks like we have Gane’d an amazing player.

Aoife Hurley – I feel i could copy and paste for Aoife every week because every single minute of every single game she works so hard to win the ball back and break up the play that Leicester tried to create in the centre of the park.

Nadine Hanssen – So many interceptions and used her class on the pitch to create things for the rest of the Villa team to latch onto and get forward, Never started working hard all the way through the game.

Phoebe Warner – Always know that Phoebe wil give everything on the pitch and today was no different so unlucky not to get a goal. Hustled and worked so hard to get the ball into dangerous areas for Villa in the Leicester half.

Tanisha Smith – Held the ball up so well and looked so calm and confident as I can’t remember in the entire game for Tanisha that lost the ball or wasted the possession that she had, was classy on the ball and off it.

Kerri Welsh – It’s always special when Villa score but when Kerri scores it always has that little extra on it. She was so unlucky to only leave the game with one as I celebrated two as it only just went wide.

Jodie Hutton – Always makes me so proud to be a Villa fan and so happy she plays for my team. Works so hard and never ever fails or gives up on anything. Was unlucky not to add a goal with some dodgy Offside calls.

Sophie Haywood – Sophie came on to freshen up the wing for us and as always added pace for us and got us driving forward hitting Leicester on the counter attack. Always classy on the ball.

Alice Hassall – Replaced Aoife and continued her hard work in the middle to finish game. Helped us keep that clean sheet as Leicester tried to piled on pressure near the end not letting them build anything.

Again I usually pick a Player Of The Match here after talking to everyone and taking in everyone’s opinions and go from there but as we sat over dinner talking about Player Of The Match, every single player had a claim to be Player Of The Match so once again I’m not picking a single player but I am picking the whole squad and I say this because it was the team, the management, the players that didn’t get on that drove the players on the pitch, from Carly Davies and Gemma Davies giving the players encouragement as well as Elisha N’Dow from the sidelines in the dying minutes keeping the players going and giving them the confidence they needed to get over the line. Every single player gave everything they could on the pitch and did every single fan that was there watching proud.