Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
by Tom Coopey at Villa Park for Impetus (28/04/24).
Above: Viviane Asseyi congratulates Shannon Cooke after her vital equaliser Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
The three points looked to be wrapped up for Aston Villa, after Alisha Lehmann’s goal off the bench in the 72nd minute. A last gasp header from another substitute, in Shannon Cooke, secured an invaluable point for West Ham right at the death. West Ham have all but secured safety, whilst for Aston Villa it sees them remain in 7th, with a push for a place in the top half of the table now looking off the cards.
Aston Villa were the hosts of the Women’s Super League affair, with West Ham United making the trip to Villa Park. Rehanne Skinner’s side were looking to secure safety and retain their spot in the top flight, while Aston Villa, now only playing for pride, looked to end the season on a positive note.
Sophia Poor made her second successive start for Aston Villa, with the 17-year-old coming in for Leat, who was ruled out through suspension. Elsewhere in the line-up, Carla Ward opted for three other changes.
As for the visitors, they made just the one change with Emma Snerle coming in to replace Anouk Denton. West Ham were looking for their first league win since February.
West Ham were causing the home side a few early problems on the counter-attack. Poor was called into action, with Riko Ueki’s effort from a bouncing ball played through by Jess Ziu was drilled towards goal, but the youngster between the sticks was equal to her effort. It was the best chance of the first half.
A few moments later, Viviane Asseyi saw an attempt to find the far corner deflect behind. Asseyi was posing a threat on the left-hand side, this time beating the player before looking for a teammate at the back post. Riko Ueki had another opportunity to put her side ahead, this time with her header looping just over the bar.
Aston Villa had more of the ball after half-an-hour was played in the Midlands, but had nothing to show for it. It was Skinner’s side who were looking the more threatening, but were only able to test Poor just once in the first half. Ueki got on the end of a cross at the back post, struggling to find the desired connection, resulting in a routine catch for the Aston Villa keeper.
Rachel Daly had Villa’s first opening of the game, but her shot on the half volley was weak and comfortable for MacKenzie Arnold. Arguably Villa’s best chance of the half started with Kirsty Hanson driving with a direct run into the box, she looked for the cut-back, but no one was there to tap it into the empty net. Ward would have been happy with how her side were growing into the game towards the end of the half.
Once more, Ueki was at the heart of things for the visitors. She looked to find the top corner, floating just over. Down the other end, Hawa Cissoko worked her way in the box, before a drilled effort was handled by the keeper.
There was nothing to separate the teams after 45 minutes played at Villa Park. West Ham started the brighter side, with Ueki having the best chance of the half, early on. Ward’s side created chances of their own, whilst having the best of the ball, but weren’t clinical enough when going forward.
There were no changes made at the break, as the players came out for the second period in the Midlands. Villa came out of the blocks in the second period, with Daly having a glorious chance to give her side the lead. Hanson’s cross found the prolific striker in the middle, with her header firing just over the bar.
Emma Snearle’s corner found the head of Asseyi, but she knocked the chance just wide. Both sides were creating chances for themselves, it was just waiting for someone to step up to grab that opening goal.
The home side made their first change of the afternoon as the clock struck 60 minutes, Ebony Salmon came on in place of Miri Taylor. It was a tight game, with either side looking like they could nick the three points.
Alisha Lehmann came on for Villa, with Ward looking to find that all-important goal, Adriana Leon was brought off for the Swiss. Kenza Dali tried her luck from 25 yards out from a free kick, with Arnold reaching out to her right to tip it over.
With the clock ticking at Villa Park, time was running out for both sides. Aston Villa were dominating the ball, with Skinner’s side not having a peep of the goal in the second period.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute, with the super sub – Alisha Lehmann – finding the back of the net. Ward would have been smirking as this one found its way in. Lehmann met the ball at the front post from the cross, with her vital touch across goal, finding the far bottom corner. It only took her three minutes to make an impact, being the perfect time for her to grab her first league goal of the season.
Villa weren’t letting their foot off the gas, searching for a second to secure the victory. Lehmann’s drilled effort whistled just wide of the post, as she was in search of a brace.
Skinner made changes, with Cooke and Denton introduced, as they hoped to find an equaliser in the last 10 minutes. The visitors didn’t look as near threatening as they did in the first 45 minutes.
In the 95th minute there was a last gasp equaliser, with Shannon Cooke heading in to grab a huge point for the visitors. It was a major blow for Ward’s side after a much improved second half. Ueki, who had been a threat all afternoon, found the defender in the box, who powered it down under Poor to level the scoring.
It was a disappointing result in the end for Aston Villa, who will feel like it was two points dropped after the equaliser at the death. There were plenty of positives to take from West Ham’s performance and the character shown to snatch a point, with their place for the 24/25 WSL season looking to be secured.
Teams: ASTON VILLA: Poor, Mayling, Patten, Nobbs, Daly, Dali, Turner, Hanson, Leon, Taylor, Maritz. Substitutes used : Salmon (for Taylor 61’), Lehmann (for Leon 69’) Magill (on for Hanson 89’)
Scorers: Lehmann 72’.
WEST HAM UNITED: Arnold, Smith, Shimizu, Tysiak, Snerle, Ueki, Zadorsky, Ziu, Hayashi, Asseyi, Cissoko. Substitutes used : Denton (for Ziu 72’), Cooke (for Zadorsky 81’), Ademiluyi (on for Hayashi 90+2’)
Scorers: Cooke 90+5’.
Referee: Emily Heaslip
Attendance: 4,282
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