On Saturday afternoon, Aston Villa travelled to the Broadfield Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the final away match of the season, fresh from the announcement of Carla Ward’s exit.
Villa have a positive record away at Brighton, and were boosted by the returns of Anna Leat and Rachel Corsie from suspension and Lucy Parker from a long-term ankle injury, Corsie and Parker making the bench. Ward opted for Alisha Lehmann over Adriana Leon, perhaps due to her goal last weekend against West Ham
Head of WSL Content: Georgia Homer
Brighton opened the afternoon looking to keep hold of the ball and control the game, but Villa quickly became a threat. Rachel Daly had the first real chance of the match within 10 minutes, but her shot was a comfortable save for Melina Loeck. Minutes later, Lehmann and Dali had chances of their own, but their shots were off target and saved.
Both sides suffered misplaced passes when looking to move forward. Brighton’s Thorisdóttir gave the ball away to Kenza Dali whilst trying to avoid Daly, and the midfielder strode towards goal. Dali picked out Daly on her right, who cut back inside and shot low towards the bottom right corner, narrowly deflected wide.
Terland had two good opportunities to score for the hosts – a powerful effort just wide and a low shot straight at Leat. Moments later, Kirsty Hanson hammered a shot into the crossbar, coming the closest for either team in the first half.
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10 minutes after the break, Ward brought on Lucy Parker to replace Miri Taylor. Parker returned to the pitch after an ankle injury sidelined her for 5 months, just one of the disruptions faced by Ward’s side this season.
After 64 minutes, Alisha Lehmann broke the deadlock. Credit must be given to Rachel Daly, who broke into the box and drew three defenders towards her. The tackle on Daly pushed the ball into the path of Lehmann, who finished coolly past Loeck, who may have been obstructed by her own teammates.
Villa came close to doubling their lead with the introduction of Ebony Salmon and Adriana Leon. A back-to-front move, featuring a lengthy run from Salmon through the middle of the park, finished with Leon fizzing the ball across the face of goal. The attempt needed Kirsty Hanson at the back post, but she was a fraction too late arriving.
The same link-up between Salmon and Leon was almost rewarded again after Dali carried the ball up the pitch for Salmon to hit across goal, but Leon couldn’t quite get herself on the end of it.
Leon had another chance when a free-kick was kept alive by Rachel Corsie; the skipper volleyed the clearance back into the crowd and Leon rose highest to meet it, but the header saw the ball over the bar.
Villa continued to create chances and see the game out, Lehmann’s goal being the decider. Ward herself highlighted the game management after the match, and should also be credited for her decision to start Lehmann after her first goal of the season as a substitute last weekend. With seventh place now confirmed, Villa fans can look forward to Carla Ward’s last ever game in charge against title-hunting Manchester City, who she has an impressive recent record against.
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AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
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