Due to the postponement of the opening weekend of the season, Aston Villa found themselves up against last weekβs opposition just 8 days later. Villa made the journey down to Brighton with the hope of turning last weekβs draw into a win.Β
Carla Ward named an unchanged side, but Brighton made 3 changes. Lydia Williams, Veatriki Sarri, and Emma Kullberg joined the hostsβ starting line-up.
Brighton took the lead after two minutes with a header from a corner. Their captain, Julia Zigiotti, got her head to Megan Connollyβs ball and left Hampton with no chance. The corner was won through a counter attack, after Pattenβs ball out wide was cut out and Brighton could run the other way. Katie Robinsonβs cross looked threatening and Villa were forced to concede the corner that led to the goal.
Villa quickly found a way back into the game. The equaliser came from Lucy Staniforth; the January signing scored her first goal for the club at the 15 minute mark. The goal mirrored Brightonβs opener, as the corner came in from Kenza Dali and Staniforth headed it home.Β
Just two minutes after Villaβs first goal, Kirsty Hanson fired us into the lead. Kenza Dali has been a constant creator for this team and this game was no different. Dali sent the ball out to the right for Jordan Nobbs, before picking up the ball again on the overlap and sending it over the crowd to the back post, where Hanson was waiting to pounce.
The whirlwind comeback continued and Jordan Nobbs made it three for Villa in the 23rd minute. Hanson was involved again and pulled the ball back from the left wing for Nobbs to run onto and hit powerfully into the top of the goal. Itβs a finish we have seen before but a first for her in claret and blue.
Brighton had chances but they were significantly less threatening. Emma Kullberg took a long range shot at 27 minutes that was tipped high over the top of the net for a corner. The corner was taken short to Sarri and another shot came in from distance, which Hampton could comfortably fall onto.
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Rachel Daly had to get in on the action, but it was made especially easy for her by Dali and Hanson. Dali sent a ball through the defenders to Hanson running down the left wing, who then passed the ball straight across goal for Daly to make the tap in. This was Villaβs fourth goal of the afternoon and Dalyβs tenth of the campaign – putting her level once more with Manchester Cityβs Bunny Shaw in the golden boot race.
Before half-time could arrive, Jordan Nobbs secured her brace, making it 5 goals to 1 in the first half. Lydia Williams had come forward and faced Nobbs one on one, but the midfielder played a calm finish past her into the Brighton net. Hanson claimed her third assist of the half.
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Brighton made a double change at the break, bringing on Carter and Green for Sarri and Robinson. They came out with a lot more intensity and were awarded a penalty just a few minutes into the second half due to a shirt pull by Anna Patten (that some would suggest was outside the area). Danielle Carter scored the spot-kick in the 49th minute; Hampton dived the right way but the shot was too powerful to keep out.
Rachel Corsie was introduced at the hour mark to replace Anna Patten. Corsie, still returning to full match fitness, was likely brought on to help manage the game with her experience.Β
Just as Brighton looked to have a foot back in the game, Jordan Nobbs reappeared with a rocket from outside the box to finish off her hattrick. In the 69th minute, she scored what some were calling a βvintageβ finish, and Villa led 2-6.
There was a triple change for villa after 70 minutes. Gielnik, Blindkilde, and Littlejohn entered the game, while Daly, Staniforth, and Dali made way. A clear indication of how comfortable Villa and Carla Ward were feeling by this point, still with 20 minutes remaining.
The points were all but settled, but the chances kept coming. Lehmann took a shot in the 88th minute from the edge of the box, with a lot of power but too high. 17 year old Evie Rabjohn came on for Sarah Mayling to see out a few minutes of injury time, including a Jordan Nobbs corner which could have easily been turned into the net.
The whistle blew for full time confirming an emphatic victory for Villa, coming from behind to claim victory on the road. Last weekβs 1-1 draw feels a distant memory, replaced by hattrick heroics and a fifth place position in the WSL.
AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
Authorβs UTV PODCAST archive Georgia Homer
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