Aston Villa Women returned to Super League action for the first time in 2024 as they made the short trip to Burton to take on Leicester City at the Pirelli Stadium.
Supporters looked at this as a must-win game and an opportunity to kick-start what has largely been a disappointing campaign. Villa were able to come out on top on both occasions last season and would have been hoping for the same this time around.
Unsurprisingly, Carla Ward opted to make changes from the side that lost last weekend to Everton in the FA Cup. First-choice keeper Daphne Van Domselaar returned in between the sticks while Alisha Lehmann and Laura Blindilde-Brown replaced Jordan Nobbs and Kirsty Hanson who dropped to the bench. Young goalkeeper Sophia Poor, who joined the club in the summer was also named on the bench for the first time this season after returning from injury.
Report: Leicester Women 0-1 Aston Villa Women
Villa started the game strong with Lucy Staniforth being fouled within the first minute of the game but the resulting free-kick came to nothing.
The first chance for the visitors came in the 6th minute when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box following a foul by Staniforth but their effort was headed over the bar.
Villa’s first chance of note came after 15 minutes when Blindkilde Brown played the ball through to Maritz on the corner of the box but her shot went slightly wide of the post. After a poor goal kick from Leicester goalkeeper, Janina Leitzig, Villa were straight on the attack again winning a corner.
The corner was taken short by Kenza Dali to the feet of Adriana Leon. Leon crossed the ball, finding the feet of Rachel Daly whose shot was hit straight into a Leicester defender before falling back to Daly who took the shot on the volley finding the back of the net and making it 0-1 to Villa. This goal was deserved with how Villa were playing and was only a matter of time.
Moments later Villa had another clear chance in the 22nd minute when Leon turned away from a challenge in the middle of the pitch and played the ball through the home team’s defence into the path of Lehmann whose shot was easily saved by Leitzig and deflected out for a corner. Dali once again took this corner and found the feet of Corsie who hit the shot on the volley but missed the target. Villa had the majority of the chances for the rest of the half but none tested the Foxes goalkeeper.
This was a very good half for Villa with them looking like the team we were used to seeing last season. The Swiss link-up on the left side was very successful and they were creating many chances for the team.
At half time Leicester made 2 changes bringing on pacy winger Deanne Rose and midfielder Josie Green for Sophie Howard and Jutta Rantala. This didn’t seem to change much for the home team with Villa starting the second half how they ended the first half and immediately found themselves on the attack but not being able to test Leitzig.
Leicester had a few chances at the beginning of the second half forcing DVD into a few saves but none being difficult for her to deal with.
Ward opted to make changes after the 64th minute as the Swiss duo of Martiez and Lehmann were replaced by Hanson and Maz Pacecho.
The changes seemed to open the game up as it became end to end as both Leon and Daly having chances while Leicester tried to get forward but also struggled in the final third.
Northern Ireland international Simone Magill was introduced eight minutes from time to replace Leon who had run herself into the ground.
The host’s best chance of the game came on the 88th minute when Deanne Rose disposed Daly which appeared to be a reckless challenge. The officials waved play on as Rose utilised her pace to get through the Villa backline and forced a low save from DVD. She then quickly got back up to make another save to prevent Sam Tierney from getting her head on the ball. DVD’s punch landed at the feet of Yuka Momiki whose shot had DVD beat but was calmly cleared off the line by Sarah Mayling before being cleared out of the box by Blindkilde Brown. This was scruffy play by Villa and we were lucky not to concede in this game.
Villa controlled the game after this moment and came away with the win and a clean sheet in a hard-fought end to the game. This makes it 4 wins in the last 6 games in the WSL for Villa in what looks to be a turnaround for the team. It takes Villa up to 7th in the league.
Analysis
Every player put their all into this game with both Hanson and Daly taking knocks and limping for the last 5-10 minutes of the game after throwing their body on the line at the end of the game. Maritz once again had a strong game in her unfavoured left-back position. Lehmann also had a good game at left wing linking up well with her international team-mate.
It’s hard to pick one stand-out player in this match when every player played so well but I think DVD deserves the Player of the Match award after her vital saves in the second half and her distribution of constantly finding a teammate throughout the game.
With the transfer window still open I think Villa need to try and bring in another centre-back with the injuries of both Lucy Parker and Dan Turner Villa is currently very short in that position with only Corsie and Anna Patten available in that position until either of the duo return.
The ladies are once again in action on Wednesday night when they travel up north to face Sunderland in the final group game of the Conti Cup with Ward hoping to maintain the 100% record in the competition this season. The game will be at the Eppleton Colliery Football Ground for a 19:30 kick-off.
