Fixtures
- Aston Villa Women Vs. Bristol City Women – Sat, Feb 3rd 2024, 12:30
Aston Villa Women were pegged back twice at Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, drawing 2-2 with Bristol City.
Goals from Jordan Nobbs and Adriana Leon looked like sending Villa on their way to consecutive home league victories, but Amalie Thestrup and then Carrie Jones struck to ensure a share of the spoils for the visitors.
Carla Ward made a pair of changes from the side that started Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
Alisha Lehmann made way for Kirsty Hanson on the left side of the attack, while Maz Pacheco came in for the recently departed Laura Blindkilde Brown.
The game began in a typically scrappy manner but Villa quickly manufactured the first clear-cut chance of the afternoon.
Hanson cut ball the back from the left-hand side of the penalty area, and Leon’s effort towards goal was saved well by Shae Yanez.
The chance seemed to spring Villa into life and they took the lead through Nobbs after 13 minutes.
The ball was laid back to her on the edge of the area and she wasted no time and thumping the ball into the back of the net.
But just a minute or so later, Bristol City equalized when Thestrup prodded the ball beyond Daphne van Domselaar having been played through on goal by ex-Villan Emily Syme.
Villa continued to venture into the final third throughout the first half but didn’t seriously threaten Yanez’s goal.
That changed at the beginning of the second half, though, when Nobbs and Kenza Dali both saw goal-bound efforts saved.
But Villa weren’t denied much longer as Leon gave them the lead once again on the hour mark.
The Canadian, who scored the deciding goal during our last home win, lashed home from a tight angle and Villa entered the final 30 minutes with a lead to defend.
Despite the game unfolding as if Villa would go on to stamp their authority and take three points, the Robins equalized again when Jones found the top corner from distance.
Villa were initially stunned but pressed on for a late winner.
They thought they had it late into stoppage time but they just couldn’t get the ball across the line.
Attention will now turn towards Wednesday’s FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup semi-final with Brighton & Hove Albion.
