After a night out in Sunderland and a lot of rain, it was time for the game to get underway. We got to the ground and it was tipping it down and the weather wasn’t going anywhere as it came down like a monsoon. After everyone believed we would turn up with our Academy team, we didn’t it wasn’t the first team in action. Only two wins in the competition would see us able to get into the hat for the next round.
It didn’t take long to open the scoring as well when Sarah Mayling picked out Laura Blindkilde who hit a Beth Mead-esque shot that looped past the keeper before going in off the post. Some may ask if she meant it, was it a shot or a cross but those people don’t know just how good Laura actually is, she obviously meant it. But 0-1 became 0-2 within 10 minutes as a clearance fell to Ramona Petzelberger on the edge of the box and of course Ramona picked out the corner with precision and class.
The game calmed down a little with Sunderland trying to build themselves into the match with the conditions causing havoc as well. But it was nearly 0-3 as Laura Blindkilde hit a rocket that cause the Sunderland keeper to push it over the bar. But in the 41st minute, Remi Allen put us 0-3 up with reacting quickest to a corner as she poked the ball home. The half time whistle came with Villa in total control. The rain still playing havoc with the referee worrying about the pitch and if we could carry on, If this game was a 2 pm kick-off I doubt it would have been on.
Villa made 3 changes going into the second half at 0-3 up and couldn’t help but think if we had the academy players we could of made 5 changes at this points with bringing the likes of Missy Goodwin on and etc..
Alisha Lehmann was a total bright key to the cause when she was doing everything but getting a goal to her name as she went close at start of second half. Then Maz Pacheco went even closer as her effort went other side of the post.
Sunderland to their credit tried and tried while never giving up and went close as it looped over the bar but it didn’t test Sian Rogers too much In the Villa goal. But the 71st minute the game was certainly over when Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah lofted the ball into the box and Alisha Lehmann nodded it home for her first-ever Villa goal. And just like the buses her second game a few minutes later as Gemma Davison sparked a bright through ball as Alisha Lehmann finished calmly and put it past the keeper to make it 0-5.
Gemma Davison again became provider as she won the ball and set up Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah who made no mistake hitting the back of the net to make it 0-6 to Villa in the 84th minute. Sunderland had an effort late on from a corner when it looked like Sian Rogers was fouled and their effort for the open goal hit the outside of the post. But Villa wanted the magnificent 7 and I don’t mean Alisha Lehmann but Remi Allen unleashed a shot in slow motion that nearly burst the net as it went in off the post making it 0-7 to Villa at full time.
In defeat, Sunderland should be proud of their themselves though as well with injury’s and a young team against our FAWSL stars in testing conditions. But also as a while such an amazing weekend away in Sunderland. Really nice people no matter where we went whether on the night out or in the ground.
Carla Ward will no doubt be happy with a clean sheet, 7 goals and looking to get the team in form ready for Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 12th with a 6 pm kick-off at the Banks Stadium.
All that’s left to say is Up The Villa!!
Sunderland: Moan, Herron, Griffiths, Potts, McInnes, Farrugia, Kelly, Joice, Manders (Burt 85), Blakey, Scarr (Ede 64)
Aston Villa: Rogers, Mayling, Asante (Arthur 45), Sargeant, Pacheco, Blindkilde (Hutton 78), Allen, Littlejohn (Ewers 45), Petzelberger (Davison 60), Lehmann, Gielnik (Boye-Hlorkah 45).
Goals: Blindkilde 1, Petzelberger 10, Allen 41,90, Lehmann 72,76, Boye-Hlorkah 84