I am venturing in to the world of the new revamped Women's Super League today. As I was not able to go to a game yesterday, I have decided to go and watch Aston Villa Ladies play in the new Division 2 of this league competition.
They now play on the artificial turf at Sutton Coldfield Town's ground at Coles Lane. Their opponents today are the redoubtable Sunderland Ladies, champions over the last 3 seasons of the National League.
The forecast is nothing brilliant but I know that this stadium has plenty of cover and so I'm soon travelling to Birmingham in cloudy and cool conditions with a threat of showers. I have seen both teams before and it will be interesting to see how they have progressed in the mean time.
After alighting at New Street station I have a quick look round some of the shops in Birmingham and then I go back to catch the train going to Lichfield.
Half an hour later I'm in Sutton Coldfield, grab something to eat at the local branch of Greggs and then I make the 15 minute walk to the ground.
It's £3 for admission and £1 for the match programme. There seems to be a decent crowd of 100+ today which is encouraging. Villa used to play at the nearby Boldmere St.Michael's ground when I saw them before.
The teams come out in their usual club colours and Sunderland certainly start the better. Their No.7 shoots narrowly wide of the goal after just 4 minutes and then Villa, without heeding this warning find themselves 1 goal down 5 minutes later. Beth Meade, Sunderland's experienced striker slots the ball past the keeper in a one on one situation, as shown below.
Sunderland continue to call the shots and after 15 minutes Mead hits the post with another effort.
Villa's Carly Davies has a chance but shoots over the bar as they get in to the game more but Sunderland have other ideas and after 40 minutes, Beth Mead manages to score a second goal despite the close attentions of the keeper and defender, Jade Richards.
So the first-half ends with Sunderland very much in the driving seat and Villa have it all to do.
During the interval I talk to an old couple who have 2 grand daughters who play for the Villa girls Under-11's team and today these girls are also helping retrieve the balls on the touch line during the game today. The grand parents also tell me that the girls travel to play games all over the country, so it seems they get a lot of experience at an early age these days!
Also I walk over to introduce myself and say hello to Sue Gutteridge who takes photos for the Sunderland team. I remember sending her some photos after an WFA Cup game against Birmingham 2 years ago, which she kindly posted on her club's website. She looks to be busy as she has to send off some of her photos through her laptop. Her daughter Natalie plays for the team, although not today as she's recovering from injury.
The second-half starts and Villa impose themselves a lot more now. Soon Sunderland are having to clear the ball off their own goal line after their keeper, Rachel Laws can only partially stop a goal bound effort.
This spurs on the home team and they continue to increase the pressure on the Sunderland goal.
Villa's captain, Dani Petrovic, goes close with a diving header and later another shot is cleared off the Sunderland goal line.
So the home team have been having the better of the play in this half but have sadly not been able to press home their advantage. This proves to be costly as, the Sunderland forward, Abbey Joice scores her sides 3rd goal with just 2 minutes to go.
A heartbreaking result for the Villa Ladies but they have certainly shown that they have the skills and fitness necessary for this level of football. They just need to convert their chances.
There is another game taking place straight after this one today. The Villa 'Development' team are playing their counterparts from Liverpool in their competitions League Cup semi-final. So it's very good value package for the spectators and there is definitely a very family friendly feel to proceedings today.
Sunderland have re-enforced the view of many that they and Doncaster Belles (who both now occupy the first 2 places), will be the teams to beat in this division and they certainly have put in a ruthless display today.
I'm glad I came today and have been impressed by the standard of play and the 2 teams who have both seemed to have improved in the intervening period when I saw them last.
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