Aston Villa Women: Three players who shined in 3-1 win v Reading
Aston Villa enjoyed a winning return to the WSL after the international break as a Rachel Daly hat-trick eased them to a 3-1 victory against Reading at Villa Park.
The England international had scored five goals in her first six WSL outings for The Villans and carried on this form with a smart header to draw Villa level in the 37th minute – before doubling her tally from a corner on the stroke of half-time.
The ever-impressive striker completed her hat trick in the final 15 minutes when she made no mistake from the penalty spot and sealed three much-deserved points.
After the resounding victory, Carla Ward’s side now sit fifth in the WSL table and just three points behind Manchester City in fourth.
Here Villa News takes a look at three players who shined in the victory on Sunday 20 November.
Rachel Daly
Where else could we really start?
Daly proved a thorn to Reading’s side all afternoon and her potent form will give Villa hope of climbing the table in the coming weeks.
After spurning a couple of good opportunities in the first half to get Villa level, Daly then found her scoring boots in quite some style. Two headers helped Villa take the lead going into the break before she cooly converted her penalty to make sure of the victory in the second half.
Ward will be relishing the opportunity of working with such a high-class player and Daly’s form for both club and country has now cemented her as one of the best players not just in the league but in Europe.
Player of the match performance on Sunday and more than justifying her summer transfer fee.
Kirsty Hanson
Hanson proved herself a menace on the left side all afternoon as she terrorised Reading’s back line with a number of fine piercing runs.
Her pace was a brilliant outlet for Ward’s side and she held the ball up and used it smartly when brought into action, including a number of perfectly-weighted crosses into the box from her wing.
The 24-year-old had her day ended when she was clean through on goal and scythed down by Brighton shot-stopper Jacqueline Burns, who was consequently sent off.
Starting to come into her own in Claret and Blue following her loan move from Manchester United in the summer.
Laura Blindkilde Brown
Blindkilde Brown displayed the enormous steps she has taken this season with a brilliant display against The Royals.
The 19-year-old was everywhere on Sunday, working really hard both offensively and defensively, and seemingly covering every blade of grass in front of the four thousand-plus loyal fans.
She had a chance at 1-1 which was deflected wide and away for a corner after doing well to find space in the box, before playing a fantastic ball which split the Reading defensive line and unleashed Alisha Lehmann in on goal.
A real coming-of-age performance by the young England Under-23s star.
In other news,Ty Bracey would like to see Aston Villa sign Eden Hazard, not getting overexcited.