Manchester City Women 7, Aston Villa Women 0
Lauren Hemp scored twice as Manchester City Women put seven goals past WSL newcomers Aston Villa Women after a month long break without a competitive fixture.
Embed from Getty ImagesClinical finishing from Manchester City saw them put the game beyond Aston Villa with a 6 goal first half salvo – the first time City had done that in the WSL.
Lauren Hemp scored twice, and goals by Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Ellen White, and an own goal by Natalie Haigh boosted City’s goals for column in a one-sided first half.
Chloe Kelly hit the woodwork twice before notching for herself late in the second half which saw Villa try to frustrate City by packing their defence – a tactic which almost worked.
The huge second half lead saw Mahon able to give two youngsters their WSL debuts – Millie Davies and Alicia Windows came on against the WSL newcomers.
Victory meant that City moved to within 5 points of WSL leaders Manchester United having repaired their goal difference deficit. With their eye on the top 3 spots which would ensure Champions League football next season.
City assistant boss Alan Mahon took charge of the team after Gareth Taylor was self isolating following the positive cases of COVID in the Manchester City camp last weekend.
City, who hadn’t played a competitive fixture for a month, were heavily depleted as a result of those positive cases, with Karen Bardsley and Jill Scott given rare starts while Esme Morgan partnered Steph Houghton in the centre of defence.
City’s American internationals, Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle, and Abby Dahlkemper, were all on international duty while youngsters from the development squad were named on the bench as City’s squad was stretched to the limit.
Mahon’s second spell in charge of the team got off to a flying start when Lauren Hemp scored in under two minutes after she slid in at the far post to convert a cross from Chloe Kelly who was sent though by an unmarked Jill Scott.
Nadine Hanssen almost levelled after 8 minutes when Shania Hayles intercepted a poor clearance by Houghton and crossed to her team mate who shot wide.
Kelly hit the post with a swerving shot before Scott doubled the lead after 17 minutes after Lucy Bronze’s curling cross was headed past Lisa Weiss – her first WSL goal of the season.
Georgia Stanway made it 3-0 after 31 minutes with her 4th WSL goal of the season when she was given plenty of time to pick her spot, cutting in from the left after a well timed Bronze ball over the top.
Stanway also shot wide shortly afterwards as City looked to capitalise on the mayhem in the Villa penalty box.
It took until the 36th minute for Bardsley to make a save, from Hayles, while Weiss saved from Janine Beckie after a cut back from Kelly a minute later.
But the reprieve was only temporary as Kelly’s subsequent corner was headed in by Hemp who stepped away from her marker to create space after Ellen White didn’t connect with it.
Jill Scott tried to double her own tally with a couple of chances after that but Hemp’s cross/shot was turned into her own net by Natalie Haigh.
Ellen White got herself on the scoresheet with a tap-in on the stroke of half time after Weiss failed to clear the ball and Hemp cut the ball back for her.
Changes were made by both sides at the break with Villa’s Chloe Arthur replaced by Elisha N’Dow while Japanese World Cup 2011 winner Mana Iwabuchi made her WSL debut for Hanssen.
And for City Jess Park replaced Lucy Bronze at the break.
Aston Villa Women tighten up after the break but Manchester City find a way through and hand debuts to Millie Davies and Alicia Window
Kelly struck the woodwork again after the break even though Villa were defending with 5 players in defence.
There was an additional change after 55 minutes with Villa’s Hayles making way for Sophie Haywood.
The second half was a case of damage limitation for the visitors who managed to keep City at bay by packing central midfield and defence out to force City wide.
Villa youngster Olivia McLoughlin came on for Asmita Ale in the 65th minute for her WSL debut while Ramona Petzelberger was taken off following an injury concern and was replaced by Amy West with 18 minutes to go.
Villa’s defensive strategy worked for most of the second half, with City keeping the ball but unable to prise them open.
Hemp was replaced by Millie Davies – making her senior debut for City – with 15 minutes to go.
Kelly, who had stuck the woodwork twice and terrorised the left flank after the break, finally got on the scoresheet thanks to an unfortunate error by McLoughlin – Kelly charged down the loose ball after Weiss’ block attempt and she tapped into an empty net with 11 minutes to go.
Kelly set up Scott with another cut back but the ball came off the England veteran.
Alicia Window replaced White for the last 8 minutes – another senior debut for City – and Houghton shot wide from a late free kick.
Haywood had one final chance to spoil City’s clean sheet in added time but shot wide.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 7, Aston Villa Women 0
Man City Women 1, Aston Villa Women 0: 2. Lauren Hemp scored early after sliding in at the far post to convert Chloe Kelly’s right wing cross.
Man City Women 2, Aston Villa Women 0: 17. Jill Scott headed City’s second after timing her run perfectly to meet Lucy Bronze’s left wing cross.
Man City Women 3, Aston Villa Women: 31. Georgia Stanway made it 3-0 with a clinical finish after cutting in from the left following a ball over the top by Lucy Bronze.
Man City Women 4, Aston Villa Women 0: 37. Lauren Hemp created space for herself and met Chloe Kelly’s corner with a header.
Man City Women 5, Aston Villa Women 0: 40. Natalie Haigh turned Lauren Hemp’s cross into her own net.
Man City Women 6, Aston Villa Women 0: 45. Ellen White had a tap in after Lisa Weiss’ poor clearance went to Lauren Hemp who cut the ball back to the City striker.
Man City Women 7, Aston Villa Women 0: 79. Chloe Kelly charged down a deflected block attempt by Lisa Weiss after an error by Olivia McLoughlin and tapped the loose ball into the empty net.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 7, Aston Villa Women 0
Man City Women: Bardsley, Beckie, Houghton, Morgan, Bronze (Park 46), Stanway, Scott, Coombs, Kelly, Hemp (Davies 75), White (Window 82)
Man City Women subs not used: Benameur, Greenwood, Phillips, Ravening
Goals: Hemp 2, 37; Scott 17, Stanway 31; Haigh og 40; White 45; Kelly 79
Aston Villa Women: Weiss, Ale (McLoughlin 65), Haigh, Asante, Siems, Petzelberger (West 72), Ewers, Arthur (N’Dow 46), Hayles (Haywood 55), Larsen, Hanssen (Iwabuchi 46)
Aston Villa Women subs not used: Rogers, Follis, Syme, Silva
Referee: Amy Fearne