Daly hattrick inspires Villa win
A quick-double either side of half-time saw Aston Villa run out 5-0 winners in RG2.
An even start to proceedings in RG2, with both sides looking to use the ball well and build from the back. Villa had the closest chance within the opening five minutes as Dali managed to ride a few challenges and get into the box, but her attempted ball to Daly was intercepted by Mayi Kith – but it wouldn’t have mattered as the offside flag was raised.
Reading were pressing well, and presented them with their first chance on the stroke of the 10th minute, as Rowe found space between the lines and did well to turn and shoot, but she couldn’t quite find the target.
Despite little action in either half, Aston Villa’s first chance on target led to their first goal. Hanson managed to get in behind, and found Daly’s run to the near post who had to stretch to reach the ball but managed to creep it in at the far post.
Reading instantly responded, as Vanhaevermaet’s wonderful pass found Troelsgaard inside the box and put her foot through the ball and it cannoned off the post.
Despite the set back, Reading saw a good amount of possession for the following ten minutes, but were struggling to threaten Hampton’s goal. A corner looked a possible option, but the latest only made it to the near post which Villa could comfortably clear.
A quick succession of chances fell for the visitors with 30 minutes on the clock, the first from a set piece which found Hanson unmarked from 6-7 yards out, as she tried to knock it across goal she narrowly missed the target. Moments later, a chance for Mayling to shoot from range, but she couldn’t keep the effort down as it sailed over.
Reading began to press again high, in line with the crowd getting behind them, but an error from the back put them in trouble as Daly latched onto the loose ball and quickly played the ball across the box to Lehmann who could simply tuck home.
It was a case of lightening striking twice, as minutes later, Villa had a third. Mayi Kith was caught in possession, and whilst Reading were appealing for a foul, Lehmann squared the ball for Hanson made no mistake tapping into an empty net.
Half-time: Reading 0 – 3 Aston Villa
An early chance for Villa, as Hanson indirect freekick is aimed toward the back post, a Villa shirt gets on the end of it but it is comfortable for Moloney to claim.
Reading’s first real chance of the game, seven minutes in the second half, a recycled ball from an initial corner is whipped in by Mukandi – it finds it’s way to Moore who has a lot to do before shooting, and she just couldn’t quite get over the ball as the effort went over.
Villa responded instantly, as Daly got her second and their fourth. Dali’s one-two worked space in behind, who had all the time to pull it back for Daly to finish comfortably
There was no letting up from Aston Villa, and Rachel Daly, who later got her hattrick. Dali’s ball through found Daly’s run in behind, who showed great composure to slot into the far corner.
Reading were struggling to string passes together, as Villa were able to nullify any attacks, and quickly turn defence into attack. Another fine example came ten minutes from the end as Littlejohn combined with Boye-Hlorkah, but Wade read the danger to stop a chance on goal. From the clearance presented a chance for Royals, as Harries tried sliding in Perry, but Turner got across well to marshal the ball away from the forward.
The final chance of the game fell Villa’s way, as Dali’s corner was met by the head of Pacheco as it flashed past the post.
Full-time: Reading 0 – 5 Aston Villa
Reading: Moloney (GK), Mukandi ©, Wellings (Primmer 55’), Eikeland, Harries, Mayi Kith (Woodham 45’), Caldwell (Perry 66’), Moore (Wade 55’), Rowe, Vanhaevermaet (Hendrix 66’), Troelsgaard
Unused Subs: Poulter, Bryson, Evans, Alexander
Yellow: Vanhaevermaet (38’), Moore (46’)
Aston Villa: Hampton (GK), Mayling, Lehmann (Boye-Hlorkah 58’), Daly, Dali, Staniforth (Littlejohn 57’), Turner, Patten, Blindkilde Brown (Allen 58’), Hanson (Magill 73’), Pacheco
Unused Subs: Leat
Goals: Daly (13’, 54’, 62’), Lehmann (40’), Hanson (43’)