Forward Nadine Hanssen netted a first half hat-trick as Aston Villa won 9-0 at Coventry United this evening in their second FA Women’s Continental League Cup group match.
A deadly display saw Villa net four goals in the first 28 minutes as they made easy work of their FA Women’s Championship opponents.
Gemma Davies’ side broke the deadlock after just seven minutes at the Butts Park Arena when Emily Syme played the ball across the box to Hanssen who drilled in the opener from just a few yards.
Hanssen got both hers and Villa’s second goal three minutes later when she struck the ball home from a similar distance to her first before Syme’s cheeky back-heel made it 3-0 with less than 20 minutes on the clock.
Villa were soon to add a fourth with Hanssen completing her hat-trick with her scrappiest goal of the evening moments after Amy West had seen an effort bounce off the post.
Coventry United threatened the Aston Villa goal for the first time in the 34th minute when Anna Wilcox’s audacious free-kick was tipped over the bar by visiting keeper Lisa Weiss before Olivia Clark denied Villa a fifth goal with a stunning save at the other end.
Aston Villa were given a golden opportunity to extend their lead early in the second half when Beth Merrick pushed Emma Follis in the area. The midfielder stepped up to take the spot kick herself and sent Clark the wrong way as Villa took a 5-0 lead.
If there was to be any criticism of Villa’s attack in the first half, it was that Diana Silva hesitated when in good positions to shoot but the Portuguese international made no mistake just before the hour when she fired home at the back post.
Shannon O’Brien then missed a great opportunity to net a consolation goal for Coventry United after being gifted possession by Weiss, the forward firing her shot against the post.
Villa substitute Shania Hayles then swept home a quick-fire double as the visitors established an eight-goal advantage before Silva curled in a ninth with the last kick of the game to crown a resounding awayday success for Davies’ side.
Villa travel to Durham for their final group game later this month in what will be a winner takes all fixture while Coventry United will complete their involvement in this season’s competition with a home match against Sheffield United.
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