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Aston Villa Football Academy 1st Match Report – VS Mansfield FC (Cup) – Wednesday 21 April 2021
Aston Villa Football Academy 1st match report – vs Mansfield FC (Cup)
Wednesday 21 April 2021
The 1st team welcomed Mansfield Town FC to Moor Lane for the penultimate game of the group stages of the Community & Education Football Alliance League (CEFA) men’s national cup competition.
Looking at the league table. Mansfield FC looked to be struggling, but a great start after a misplaced back pass by Villa centre back Owen White enabled the tricky Mansfield striker to pounce and slot the ball home for a 1-0 lead. We all hoped this was to be the San Marino of starts for the away team!
A nervous start by the Aston Villa side, who had not played a competitive game since mid-December 2020, four months ago! Aston Villa soon got into the game and in the 8th minute a great passage of play from the right side of the pitch, transferring the ball over to the left via centre midfielder Raheem. He played the ball to left back Darmarnick, who played in Sudey’s on the left wing. Quick footed winger Sudey’s had a great run up the by-line and crossed in for Corey to finish to make it 1-1. Brilliant football and exactly what the lads had been working on in training this week.
This attacking style of play continued and with great work by Darmarnick on the left side crossing the ball for striker Dan Henry, unfortunately hitting the shot over and not testing the Mansfield goalkeeper.
In the 15th minute there was a mix up between the Mansfield centre back and goalkeeper. The ball landed in between the players and both thought each other were picking it up. Quick thinking from Sudey’s enabled him to pick the ball up and slot past the keeper. 2-1 Aston Villa.
Lots of possession and a number of chances continued for Aston Villa and in the 19-minute Villa made it 3-1. A great cross by Corey from the right found Raheem who touched the ball to Lewis whose strike was accurate and in the back of the net.
More great play from Sudey’s on the left wing in the 33rd minute. A tricky run that created a chance for himself, beating the Mansfield right full back with ease and smashing a shot passed the goalkeeper. Aston Villa 4-1 up and looking to get more!
A Mansfield defender fell in possession not long after, the ball was picked up by Corey who supplied a cross for Lewis to finish past the left side of the goalkeeper in the 41st minute to make the score 5-1.
A great piece of individual brilliance from striker Dan Henry, who after a great chipped cross by Lewis Smith athletically overhead kicked the ball passed the Mansfield goalkeeper. Definitely contender for goal of the season. This meant the strong Villa side went into the break with a 6-1 advantage.
Half Time Aston Villa 6 Mansfield FC 1
A couple of changes for Villa saw Josh Kniveton, Demico Burton and Andy Edwards come on.
The second half started much like the first half had finished, Aston Villa looking the much stronger team on the pitch. Villa won a corner in the 49th minute, a great direct cross found centre back Jack Cleary to guide the ball past the goalkeeper. A brilliant subtle touch to make it 7-1 and no way back for the away team.
In the 52nd minute Demico drove in with one of his power runs with the ball, far too much for the Mansfield team to handle, eventually been brought down in the box. Penalty for Villa and a chance for Lewis Smith to slot home from the spot and get his hat-trick, which he converted with confidence. Villa 8-1 up.
This was followed up a minute later, after Villa won possession back straight after the kick off. Lewis was passed the ball through an open Mansfield defence. Full of confidence, he attempted the extravagant chip over the goalkeeper, only for the ball to go just over the crossbar, very unlucky.
Pressing again, Villa won another corner, this time converted by substitute Josh Kniveton in the 55th minute. A perfectly timed run by Demico ended in a bullet header, giving the Mansfield goalkeeper no chance. Villa 9-1 and great work by both substitutes to make an impact on the game.
This was followed by another great corner by Josh a minute later, this time met by Jack Cleary to header in for his 2nd of the game and Villa’s 10th.
Lewis wasn’t finished yet, already having 3 goals in the game. Great play on the left-hand side by Darmarnick Campbell, he found Lewis with a pulled back cross after taking the ball to the by-line. Passed in beyond the goalkeeper for his 4th and Villa’s 11th.
In the 80th minute another strong tricky run by Sudey’s down the left-hand side, causing all sorts of problems for the Mansfield full back put him through one on one with the goalkeeper. A delicate chip over made the score 12-1 Villa and a well-deserved hattrick for Sudey’s.
By now a number of the Aston Villa players were trying to get on the score sheet, so the structure and organisation of the team started to waiver. Darmarnick held onto the ball a few times but only to hit shots over and wide.
In the 90th minute Dan Henry got his second goal of the game and Aston Villa’s 13th.
A brilliant all-round performance right to the end, setting up a must win game next week verses a strong Peterborough United to finish the group stages of the National Cup and a chance to play in the knock out stages.
Full Time Aston Villa 13 Mansfield 1
The football academies 2nd team welcomed Halesowen Town to Moor Lane. The 2nd team put up a good performance but unfortunately going down 3-1, with a goal from Holy.
Next week 2nd team away verse West Bromwich Albion FC.
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