The Vixens sit bottom of the division and have failed to record a single victory, but they put their leagues woes aside as they romped to victory at Sutton Coldfield in their Group Three opener.
New signing Jade Boho-Sayo struck twice late on for Bristol after Caroline Weir’s first-half stunner and Nadia Lawrence’s prodded finish had opened up a lead before Earps was able to secure her clean sheet with a penalty save late on.
Aston Villa 0-4 Bristol Academy
The Continental Cup
Group Three
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Sutton Coldfield
Despite Villa plying their trade one step below in the FA WSL 2, shot-stopper Earps was delighted with the morale-boosting victory.
“The game was a lot closer for most of the night than the final scoreline suggests – we’ve scored at the end to make it look different,” she said.
“Winning for us was massive after the start we have had in the league. We wanted to taste that winning feeling and now we’ve got to build on it.
“We expected a tough, physical game at Villa and we got just that. The gap is closing between Super Leagues 1 and 2 and that was the case for most of the game.
“It was my second penalty save of the season. I’ve gone with my instincts again and managed to get there.”
The contest was laced with spectacular incidents including a magnificent 45-yard goal from Weir to give a Bristol a 27th minute lead.
The visitors then needed the brilliance of Earps to preserve their lead as Villa emerged from the break in determined mood, and twice the impressive keeper produced fine saves from Bethan Merrick.
Lawrence then poked home a second on 57 minutes before sub Boho-Sayo stroked in a third after home keeper Jess Myers had parried another Weir effort.
And Boho-Sayo added her second with five minutes remaining with an exquisitely placed shot from 20 yards before Earps capped a fine evening with a fine penalty stop from Katie Wilkinson.
Despite the heavy defeat, Villa shotstopper Myers insisted her side took plenty of positives from the performance.
“We were in the game for long periods although Bristol had a lot of the ball early on and forced us to defend," she said.
“The second goal was probably decisive. The pace of Jade Boho-Sayo has caused us late problems with the ball over the top.
“It was a tighter game than 4-0 suggests and we still think we have a chance of doing well in this competition.
“We knew Bristol would want to put their league form behind them and they proved what a good side they are.”
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