WSL GW1
Aston Villa v Leicester City
Lineups
Aston Villa : Hampton, Pacheco, Asante, Sergeant (N’Dow 50), Mayling, McLoughlin, Arthur, Hutton(Hayles 46) , Allen, Lehmann( Littlejohn 90+7) , Boye- Hlorkah
Leicester City ; Levell, Brougham, McManus, Tierney, Cain( Paul 79), Barker( Devlin 46), Pike, Bailey-Gayle(Howard 59), O’Brien, Flint, Sigsworth
A Slow start for the hosts seen Leicester start to get a foot hold in the game when they had a good few chances early on in the first half where Hampton was called upon to keep the score level and that she did and very well keeping her team from going behind in the early parts of the first half, Villa then began to slowly come into the game on the half hour mark but a poor challenge from Hutton seen her be the first name into the referee’s book on 36 minutes. Leicester then created a good chance from the resulting set piece but couldn’t make Hampton work. A few minutes later though and we had the breakthrough a nicely waiting ball from O’Brien through to Flint and Flint was able to calmly finish past Hampton to give the visitors the lead on 39 minutes. Villa 0-1 Leicester
The goal sort of then settled the game for the next 5 minutes with not much happening as half time was approaching. Half Time Villa 0-1 Leicester.
Both Managers made changes at the break with Hayles coming on the the booked Hutton for Villa as well as Barker making way for Devlin for the visitors.
Into the second half and it was the hosts looking to start on the front foot to try and find a way back into the game however Villa were forced into a change when Sargeant picked up a knock, she was replaced by N’Dow on 50 minutes. Villa were beginning to come forward and create a lot more but nothing that was making Levell work in the Leicester goal, Leicester looked dangerous on the counter and it was clearly too much for Asante as her poor challenge seen her go into the referee’s book on 59 minutes. Leicester then made their next change of the afternoon with Howard coming on for Bailey-Gayle. Just 2 minutes later and with their very first shot on target the hosts were level!A lovely curling free kick from Mayling left the goalkeeper with no chance! Villa 1-1 Leicester
This brought Leicester to a halt because less than a minute later they were behind! The hosts have turned this game on its head, straight from the kick off Villa regain possession as the ball was out into the box via a Hayles cross where Allen was in the right place at the right time to guide the ball home , what a turnaround from the Villians! Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City
As the 2 quick fire goals looked to have took the wind out of Leicester Tierney lost her discipline as she was the next name into the book on 68 minutes.
The game sort of settled down after that but the Visiting manager decided it was time for a change with 10 to go as Striker Lachante Paul was brought into action replacing Hannah Cain
As Villa looked to keep control and see this game out Leicester had another 2 players into the book in quick succession McManus on 82 minutes and then Brougham on 84 minutes
Aston Villa looked to have saw the game out until the Leicester substitute Paul had a brilliant chance to equalise only to see her effort cleared off the line in dramatic fashion, Midfielder Littlwjohn came on for Villa in the 7th minute of stoppage time for Lehmann
Aston Villa held on for the victory though, it definitely wasn’t easy but the hosts claimed all 3 points!
