Aston Villa Women finally grabbed their first competitive win this season by beating Championship side Sheffield United in the Conti Cup on Wednesday night.

Jodie Hutton’s first half penalty was enough to give a much-rotated Villa team a narrow win at the Banks’ Stadium. Though many first choice players were rested for the tie and it was not the most convincing of wins, there were pleasing signs for Gemma Davies that Villa can ease their way out of their difficult start to this season.

  • The kids are alright

Villa’s most exciting attacking threat against the Blades was easily Jodie Hutton.

The 19-year-old winger gave Sheffield United’s Ellie Wilson a headache all game. Indeed, it was Wilson that cleared Hutton out for Villa to win the penalty that the youth product buried for the win. Throughout the match, Hutton was holding play up and dancing around her full back to create chances for Shania Hayles and Diana Silva.

Given Villa’s poor start to the season and the strong impression Hutton made against the Blades, it would not be at all surprising to see Hutton chase down Emma Follis for her starting berth in the league.

In addition to Hutton, fellow youngster Asmita Ale put in a strong defensive showing to keep Villa cool at the back. Already given her first Super League start at the weekend against Everton, Ale used her willingness to drift infield to help out a struggling and constantly rotating central midfield and used her excellent ball retention skills to keep the heat off the defence. Her headed clearances also played a huge part in Villa’s defensive solidity.

  • A strong Plan B

Villa have developed something of a reliance on the five subs rule this season when they need to turn a game around, but they used it to keep themselves in the match against the Blades.

Once Ella Franklin was taken off with an injury in the first half, Nat Haigh slotted in to fill her right back slot despite not being a natural right back. She filled it brilliantly, with her extra defensive presence allowing Anita Asante and Elisha N’Dow to carry the ball further into midfield and get attacks moving.

Asante was taken off at half time and Haigh went back into her more natural central role. However, Amy West was fantastic as a makeshift right back. Despite traditionally being a central attacking midfielder and starting this match in that role, her transition to right back was seamless. She offered the effective defensive presence of Haigh and the attacking threat of Franklin and certainly gave Gemma Davies food for thought.

Aston Villa are back in action on Sunday with a bottom of the table clash with Bristol City while Sheffield United travel to Coventry United.