Aston Villa Women began pre-season with a 6-0 win over Oxford United at Bodymoor Heath on Saturday.
Evie Rabjohn, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Mary McAteer, Maz Pacheco, Tash Harding and Olivia Rabjohn all netted as Carla Ward’s side eased to victory against the National League South outfit.
Ward used 17 players across a game comprised of three thirty-minute periods on Saturday afternoon, as Villa experienced their first taste of match action since May.
Debuts were handed to Anna Leat and Welsh international Harding, with the latter spearheading the attack.
Inside the opening 10 minutes, our first goal of pre-season was scored.
Boye-Hlorkah cut back onto her right foot while occupying the left wing and crossed the ball towards the far post where Evie Rabjohn calmly volleyed home.
The youngster almost doubled her own tally minutes later when got on the end of another Boye-Hlorkah cross, but the Oxford ‘keeper matched her this time.
Ruesha Littlejohn almost notched in spectacular style when she sent a half-volley towards the top corner from long distance, but the visiting ‘keeper was alert once again to palm it away.
Villa would eventually add to their lead, though, when Boye-Hlorkah and McAteer found the net in quick succession.
Boye-Hlorkah squeezed an effort inside the near post from the left-hand side, while McAteer coolly rounded the United ‘keeper before slotting home before the 50-minute mark.
Pacheco added to the scoreline in fortuituous circumstances when her cross was spilled into the net, before Harding got in on the act with a poacher’s finish just shy of 60 minutes.
The third period was largely uneventful, with a youthful Villa XI dominating the ball while probing for more goals.
A sixth and final strike came in stoppage time when McAteer spun her defender expertly before squaring for Olivia Rabjohn to tap in.
Ward’s side will face Coventry United in a week’s time to continue their 2022/23 preparations.
First XI: Leat, Mayling, Sargeant, Corsie (C), Pacheco, E. Rabjohn, Littlejohn, Lehmann, Boye-Hlorkah, Gregory, Harding
Second XI: Leat, Mayling, Sargeant, Corsie (C), Pacheco, E. Rabjohn, Littlejohn, Lehmann, McAteer, Boye-Hlorkah, Harding
Third XI: Draper, Mayling, Sargeant, E. Rabjohn, MacPhail, Corsie (C), O. Rabjohn, Shaw, McAteer, Gregory, Keitley
