Liverpool Women 1-2 Aston Villa Women: Match Report | OneFootball

Another weekend without Men’s first team action nearly over, instead it was the Women who took centre-stage, perhaps fittingly on Mother’s Day as Amber Whiteley, still in interim charge, looked to build on a strong start to life in charge and to respond to a back-to-earth defeat suffered last weekend at Arsenal as Liverpool took on relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Back at their new home of the St. Helens Totally Wicked Stadium following Anfield heroics a fortnight ago against Manchester United, Whiteley was without the star of that particular show Olivia Smith due to a hip injury, whilst Gemma Bonner was back involved after missing out through illness.

Fresh off a first international call-up, Cornelia Kapocs was named on the frontline alongside Leanne Kiernan and Sophie Roman Haug. The Reds looked to bounce back and end the Women’s Super League season in the strongest possible way.

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There were three familiar faces back on Merseyside as Miri Taylor, Maz Pacheco, and fan favourite Scouser Missy Bo Kearns lined up for Villa, with Jordan Nobbs on the bench.

After an opening 30 minutes with little in the way of chances in a windy St Helens, the first big opportunity came from a set piece as Roman Haug headed back across goal from the back post, almost evading Sabrina D’Angilo’s fingertips.

Ceri Holland fired a meaningful effort goalbound after a goalmouth scramble shortly before the break with Whiteley’s side pushing hard to take the lead as a first half without a host of action came to a close goalless.

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It was a far more even start to the second half before the ball broke for Holland on the halfway line, leaving acres of space for the Welsh midfielder to run into, soon coming one-on-one with the goalkeeper, up until this point unopposed, rounding D’Angelo before having her feet clipped to send her to the ground with the goal at her mercy and leave the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Marie Hobinger stepped up from the spot and cooly slotted home, sending the keeper the wrong way to give Liverpool the lead. Just minutes later at the other end, Rachel Laws was forced into a big stop with her feet as the visitors looked to make an instant response.

Both teams turned to the bench on the hour mark but it was the Villa subs who made the impact as Kirsty Hanson went around an onrushing Laws and finished from the tightest of angles when it appeared as though the chance had gone.

Having been second best for much of the contest it was Villa who looked the stronger in the final quarter, Whiteley turning to Jenna Clark from the bench in the closing stages as Bo Kearns’ influence began to take hold.

Then, disaster struck for The Reds as a near post cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Clark, leaving Laws with no chance as the ball trickled beyond the line.

There was a lifeline for Liverpool in the shape of the fourth officials’ board as nine added minutes were held aloft and allowed the home side to believe that there was time to take something from the match.

With desperation came despair as Villa countered regularly, sending Grace Fisk into the book for stopping a dangerous attack before killing time down in the corner in front of their travelling support who by this point were lapping up a rare victory.

Villa duly held on to a massive victory for their survival hopes and for Liverpool it was a case of what might’ve been.

Post Match

Speaking after the match, Whiteley discussed the fine margins of the defeat: “I didn’t think there was a lot in the game, we knew they would come out fighting. We did well to go one nil up but I don’t think we did enough to protect that lead and once they scored it gave them belief.”

On Smith’s injury: “Slight issue, should be okay for the Chelsea game.”

On Smith’s absence: “We definitely missed her pace, Villa have struggled to deal with pace and we definitely could’ve used her today but it gave an opportunity for Leanne to start and of course minutes for Mia.”

Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo was delighted with the victory albeit reiterated that “the job is not done” yet regarding survival.