The long-awaited return to the Bescot Stadium finally arrived on matchday 4, as Aston Villa hosted Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs suffered an opening day defeat to Chelsea, but have since gained maximum points from their following two games.
In contrast, Villa were looking to pick up their first points of the season.
Ward chose a different set-up, keeping both recognised full-backs in Mayling and Pacheco on the bench. Instead, Lucy Parker and Dan Turner completed the back four. Salmon and Leon started together with Daly as the forward line for the first time, after some lively appearances from the two new attackers. We were told prior to the game to expect Kenza Dali back after the international break in time for Chelsea, along with Kirsty Hanson who will have completed her 3-match ban.
From the first whistle, it was clear that this would be an energetic game. Villa looked up for the occasion, and the crowd provided the energy to match. It didn’t take long before Adriana Leon was brought down as she entered the box, fouled by Eveliina Summanen. Rachel Daly stepped up to take the penalty, and calmly sent Becky Spencer the wrong way. Villa were ahead within five minutes.
Villa kept the pressure on and Salmon’s curling shot nearly nestled into the right corner at 12 minutes, but was saved by Spencer. From the resulting corner, Nobbs came close with a volley but her shot through the crowd was wide.
Spurs drew level in the 33rd minute through Martha Thomas. With Villa playing so high, Rachel Corsie’s miscontrol was punished harshly. Thomas stole the ball and turned towards goal, seeing no defenders or teammates to support, she made the quick decision to attempt the lob and successfully found the back of the net over van Domselaar who was off her line.
Both teams had chances to take the lead, Villa through Laura Blindkilde and Spurs through Jess Naz. Blindkilde’s shot from the edge of the box was narrowly high, then Naz cut into the Villa box at the other end and her low shot across goal was just inches wide.
Moments before the break, Ash Neville headed home a cross from Jess Naz on the right wing and put Spurs ahead. Villa found themselves trailing at half-time, 1-2.
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Tottenham looked the more confident of the two sides in the second half, and made a substitution at 55 minutes, making a straight swap of Drew Spence for Jess Naz.
Another defensive mix-up set Villa even further behind, when a corner for the visitors in the 64th minute was not cleared. The ball reached Martha Thomas who lashed the ball into the far left side of the net, with van Domselaar only able to watch as it happened. Carla Ward responded to the third goal by making a triple substitution, bringing on Mayling, Pacheco, and Magill.
Things got worse less than ten minutes later, as Thomas achieved her hattrick. It took only two long passes through midfield to send Thomas away on goal and the striker, high on confidence, struck from outside the box to secure the points for the visitors. That makes seven goals in five games since her summer move to Spurs.
The game was beyond reach, but Lucy Parker managed to reduce the deficit in injury time with her first goal for the club. Rachel Corsie’s close range effort was saved well by Spencer, but Parker was able to head in the rebound.
After an impressive opening half hour, Villa fell to their fourth consecutive defeat to start the season. With Chelsea up next following the international break, things are beginning to look desperate for Carla Ward after such high hopes for this campaign.
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AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
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