I had this one pencilled in the diary too since the fixtures came out namely because the venue was originally listed as Villa Park which I thought would be fantastic, an opportunity to show case women's football in a big stadium. The venue was changed late on a week or so I believe though to be played at Aston Villa Ladies home stadium at Sutton Coldfield. A shame and I hope that the Aston Villa Ladies team do get an opportunity to play at Villa Park in the near future.
Nevertheless I travelled over to Sutton Coldfield, driving through a couple of heavy thunder storms along the way hoping for dry weather when I got there. As it turned out the sky was clear over Birmingham and the weather settled, bright even. A warm welcome when I got there Aston Villa Ladies have created a good match day feel at their ground.
Their Continental Cup campaign hasn't gotten off to the best of starts however, having played 2 and lost 2 Aston Villa Ladies are bottom of Group Three. Birmingham City Ladies have played just the 1 match in the campaign so far securing a 2-1 victory over Yeovil Town Ladies.
| Continental Cup Group Three | |||||||
| PL | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Bristol Academy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Notts County Ladies | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| Yeovil Town Ladies | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Birmingham City Ladies | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Oxford Unied Women | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Aston Villa Ladies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
A victory in this evenings match would see the WSL 1 club sit top of the group with maximum points from 2 matches played.
Aston Villa Ladies starting XI - Caitlin Leach, Erin Vaughan, Lauren Walker, Sherry McCue, Dani Petrovic (C), Jade Richards, Sarah Mayling, Katy Moran, Carly Davies, Chloe Jones & Maddie Cusack
Birmingham City Ladies starting XI - Becky Spencer, Chelsea Weston, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Jess Carter, Jade Moore, Jo Potter, Karen Carney (C), Remi Allen, Melissa Lawley & Hannah Keryakoplis
On Sutton Coldfield's 3G surface it was Aston Villa Ladies to kick the match off in their claret and blue shirts and socks with white shorts, lined up against Birmingham City Ladies in their blue kit. It doesn't take long for Birmingham to put pressure in their local rivals high up the pitch. Out wide left Melissa Lawley has space to drive into puts in a very dangerous low cross along the six yard line Aston Villa after a bit of pinball inside the box manage to scramble the ball away.
Caitlin Leach in the Aston Villa goal has the setting sun to deal with whereas her opposite Becky Spencer's goal is in the shade. Birmingham's Jo Potter takes a short free kick to Karen Carney she has a pop at goal, driven in hard it strikes a team mate and goes wide.
The early pressure brings an early goal for the visitors right back Chelsea Weston plays the ball through the centre for Hannah Keryakoplis to run onto, Caitlin Leach comes rushing out of goal to try and stop her but the attacker stabs the ball past her into the net to make it 0-1.
Karen Carney then has another go from long range this strike cutting inside from the left about 25 yards out the effort striking the post and then cleared by Aston Villa. The home side can't get a foot hold on the match are struggling to cope with the movement of Birmingham early on.
Particularly in midfield where Jo Potter and Jade Moore are looking to do damage higher up the pitch. Jade Moore has possession of the ball 20-25 yards to the right side of the goal has a strike at goal, catches the ball perfectly sending it past Caitlin Leach at the near post before she can react to double the lead 0-2.
Jo Potter takes a Birmingham corner floating the ball into the box towards the far post there midfielder Remi Allen manages to head the ball back into the danger area, reaching Keryakoplis she sends her headed effort high over the bar. It's getting a little scrappy as you'd expect in a local derby a couple of Aston Villa players receive bookings.
The home side have barely had a chance restricted to long balls one comes over the top Sarah Mayling gives chase has a yard on her marker Becky Spencer though is quick off her line to clear the threat.
Despite the bombardment coming at them the Aston Villa defence is standing strong, block a number of attempted strikes on goal. Caitlin Leach too is strong under pressure claiming a Jo Potter free kick delivered to her far post.
Aston Villa player Chloe Jones is hauled down 25 yards from goal a good position for a free kick Sarah Mayling to take gets it over the wall but too central it is easily claimed by Spencer. Karen Carney puts the ball into the side netting after making a good run down the right channel.
Late in the 1st half Mayling with a good tackle in the final third, turns and puts in a cross to the edge of the Birmingham penalty box, but there is Jo Potter arriving to intercept the ball.
Half-time Aston Villa Ladies 0-2 Birmingham City Ladies
For all their dominance in the 1st half Birmingham were only leading by 2 goals Aston Villa had there backs to the wall for long periods but had held out well without having much opportunity at the other end. Birmingham make two changes at the start of the 2nd half bringing on Kirsty Linnett and Emily Westwood for Karen Carney and Jo Potter.
Immediately Birmingham are on the attack. Melissa Lawley winning the ball plays it to Remi Allen central who feeds it through to Jade Moore making a run to her right, the midfielder drives into the box tries to shoot, but wins a corner the ball deflected by an Aston Villa defender. Caitlin Leach does well the punch the resulting corner ball away from her goal.
Aston Villa's Carly Davies steals possession and has a punt at goal from quite a way out on the right the effort is pulled and goes across Spencer's goal and wide.
Chelsea Weston for Birmingham is looking and able to get forwards often, ends up with the ball inside the box has a go the effort going high and wide. Moments later Keryakoplis is through on goal her effort is dealt with by Leach saving at her near post.
Kirsty Linnett looking lively since coming on at the start of the half has the ball inside the box strikes it hard Aston Villa defender Jade Richards is there to block. Richards is then taken out by the onrushing Jade Moore inside the box as she attempts to get on the end of a cross.
An Aston Villa corner is sent to the far post in a crowd full back Jess Carter does very well to head the ball away from danger. Remi Allen is making more forward runs too in the 2nd half receiving the ball she is clear of her marker takes her shot a little too early the ball goes wide of the mark.
Alicia Robinson comes on to replace Chloe Jones for Aston Villa. Katie Wilkinson comes to on replace Hannah Keryakoplis for Birmingham.. Jade Richards is the lastest Aston Villa player to go in the book for a foul on Linnett 25 yards out, Linnett to take puts the free kick over the bar.
Linnett is through on goal shortly afterwards inside the box beats Leach the effort though comes off the inside of the post. Jade Richards has to make a last ditch tackle to prevent Remi Allen being through on goal wins the ball but hurts Allen in the process. Carly Davies is taken off as Aston Villa being on their final substitute Natasha Baptiste.
Chelsea Weston with another surging run from the back is through on goal only has Leach to beat hits her shot but can't get it past the keeper. Katie Wilkinson peels off her marker runs into the box and has a shot the ball deflected for a corner. Birmingham see out the final minutes with 10 players as Remi Allen is forced to come off through injury.
Even with a player less Weston is still looking to break from the back with power and pace she drives forwards plays in Wilkinson whose 1st time effort flies into the side netting. The final effort and Birmingham win the match 2 nil to take top spot in Group Three.
| Continental Cup Group Three | |||||||
| PL | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Birmingham City Ladies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Bristol Academy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Notts County Ladies | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| Yeovil Town Ladies | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Oxford Unied Women | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Aston Villa Ladies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Aston Villa will be disappointed it was a stronger 2nd half performance as they worked harder to break up Birmingham's attacking play, without really threatening their opponents goal. Birmingham secure the win but wasted a good number of chances to score, still after 2 wins to open their Continental Cup campaign they will be happy sitting at the top of the group.
No comments:
Post a Comment