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Aston Villa Women have defeated Bristol City Women emphatically to put themselves further away from the relegation spot.
Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy
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Aston Villa Women visited Twerton Park this evening for a must-win tie against Bristol City Women, who before this game sat at the foot of the Women’s Super League.
The opening ten minutes of the game were quiet, neither side fashioning attacks, but Aston Villa were enjoying more of the ball.
The first clear cut chance of the game came in the 22nd minute as Caroline Siems burst forward down the left-hand side and attempting to slip a ball into Shania Hayles – who was just beaten to the ball by Bristol’s ‘keeper.
Six minutes later, Marisa Ewers was at the end of a cross from the right-hand side, but her header was caught easily by the Bristol City goalkeeper. Another chance followed shortly after as Shania Hayles headed just over the bar.
Just minutes before the end of the half, Nadine Hanssen fired from outside of the box – but her shot was caught and held. A minute after, Emma Follis drove into the area from the left before squaring the ball across goal, for Ramona Petzelberger to slot home for the first goal of the evening.
Bristol City pressed higher in the second half and attempted to place more pressure on the Aston Villa defence. There were a number of times in the opening ten minutes of the second half in which Lisha N’Dow made exceptional challenges and blocks to keep Ebony Salmon and company at bay.
In the 56th minute Bristol City came exceptionally close to equalising. A shot was fired towards goal and cleared off the line by Asmita Ale, before Lisa Weiß clutched the ball gratefully. Aston Villa came right up to the other end of the pitch and put the game further out of Bristol’s reach just two minutes later, as Shania Hayles buried the ball from a tight angle.
Gemma Davies’ picked up a third goal ten minutes later, as the first two goal scorers combined. Shania Hayles raced towards the left-hand post, before placing the ball perfectly at the far post for Ramona Petzelberger to slide home for her brace.
Aston Villa’s first change of the evening came 15 minutes before time, replacing Marisa Ewers with Emily Syme. Just a minute later, and Shania Hayles picked up her second of the game, driving an effort into the far corner from the left hand side.
A second change came with 10 remaining, as Lisha N’Dow, who had been struggling with a knock throughout the game, was replaced by Jodie Hutton. A third change came six minutes from time, as Sophie Haywood replaced Ramona Petzelberger.
An emphatic win from Aston Villa Women to put themselves further away from the relegation spot.
