Aston Manor 
Aston Villa Football Academy 2nd match report – vs Sturridge Academy (AOC Summer League) – Wednesday 19th May 2021
Aston Villa 2nd team welcomed Sturridge Academy to Moor Lane for their second game of the AOC summer league. Confidence was high after the first game and victory over Walsall College. Sturridge Academy looked very good in the warm up, this was sure to be a tough game for the 2nds.
Villa started strongly and looked to have a good defensive structure, with Miass Suliman and Thierry Davis starting as centre backs in the heart of defence. The opposition were strong from the start, a very good passing team that were happy to keep possession and wait for their chance.
That chance came in the 6th minute when Sturridge left winger played the ball in for the striker, the pass takes out the Villa defence, 1v1 with the goalkeeper and a solid finish into the bottom corner. 1-0 Sturridge Academy.
Villa looked to be getting frustrated with the lack of possession, in the 12th minute Josh Kniveton gives a silly foul away on the edge of the box, he then kicks out at the opponent – yellow card and slightly lucky to still be on the pitch. The resulting free-kick was straight from the training ground, very smart, first a dummy free kick, for the striker to then place in the opposite bottom corner. Sturridge Academy 2-0.
In the 27th minute a great through ball again split the Villa defence wide open. It put the striker through on goal, 1v1 again with the keeper, another great strike gave goalkeeper Kyle no chance. Sturridge Academy 3-0 and looking very comfortable.
This great play continued by the Sturridge outfit. In the 36th minute another great pass, this time from the right side of midfield cut the Villa defence, the prolific strike, causing all sorts of problems delicately curled the ball in top corner, past goalkeeper Kyle. Sturridge up 4-0.
2 minutes later in the 38th minute a repeat of previous through balls from midfield, again opened up the Villa defence, 1v1 with the keeper, 5-0 up. Villa desperate for half time.
Half Time – Aston Villa 2nds 0 Sturridge Academy 5
A big talk needed by coach Callum during half time. The game definitely looked gone, but we needed the Villa lads to keep their heads up and battle to see if we could win the second half and gain some pride.
Change needed at the back, with goalkeeper Kyle going off injured and utility man Josh Kniveton going between the sticks.
Much better start to the second half. Villa gaining much more possession and trying to build possession to get our front men on the ball, which we failed to do in the first half.
Villa adopted a higher defensive line to try and catch the Sturridge academy offside. This went against Villa in the 60th minute when we lost possession of the ball in midfield, the ball was played over the defence putting the striker 1v1 with the keeper. No chance for Josh. Sturridge Academy 6-0 up.
In the 70th minute some great goalkeeping by substitute Josh kept the score from going higher with 2 brilliant saves.
The Villa side were now tiring, Sturridge academy were playing some great passing football and the Villa lads had done some running! In the 82nd minute great work by the Sturridge right winger, brilliant cross met by a header at the back post. Sturridge up 7-0.
The afternoon was capped off in the 90th minute when a long ball came towards Josh in the Villa box, he jumped up and challenged the Sturridge striker. The 1v1 was won by the striker and he slotted the ball home for 8.
Villa were happy to hear the full-time whistle, a game that needed to finish.
Full Time – Aston Villa 0 Sturridge Academy 8
