Brighton 2-6 Aston Villa: Jordan Nobbs hat-trick helps visitors to thumping win
- Published
Jordan Nobbs scored two of Aston Villa's five first-half goals before completing her hat-trick after the break
Jordan Nobbs scored a hat-trick as Aston Villa thrashed Women's Super League strugglers Brighton.
Julia Olme headed the home side in front after three minutes but Villa came storming back with five first-half goals to stun their hosts.
Carla Ward's side drew level when Lucy Staniforth nodded in a 15th-minute corner and were ahead two minutes later as Kirsty Hanson volleyed in from Kenza Dali's cross to finish off a lovely move.
Hanson then turned provider with a hat-trick of assists before the break, twice teeing up Nobbs either side of squaring for Rachel Daly to score her 10th WSL goal of the season.
Danielle Carter pulled a goal back for Brighton from the penalty spot early in the second half but any thoughts of a comeback soon faded.
Nobbs completed her hat-trick with the pick of the goals in the 69th minute, the former Arsenal midfielder giving Brighton goalkeeper Lydia Williams no chance as she picked out the top corner from fully 30 yards out.
Victory takes Villa up to fifth in the table, while Brighton stay 10th, just two points clear of bottom side Leicester.
Villa show quality to close gap to top four
Before the League Cup semi-final in midweek, West Ham manager Paul Konchesky spoke about how his side were "closing the gap" to the WSL's top clubs.
The 7-0 defeat to Chelsea that followed was not reflective of the progress the Hammers have made but, on this showing, it is another side in claret and blue that look best placed to challenge the top four in the coming seasons.
Signing Daly in the summer was a clear statement of intent and the January addition of Nobbs is another big indicator of Villa's direction of travel.
Nobbs was instrumental as, after an early shock, Villa dismantled Brighton, carving them open time and again.
With Dali pulling the strings in midfield, Daly continually running in behind to stretch the defence and Manchester United loanee Hanson consistently finding space, Nobbs was able to wreak havoc with her direct running from midfield - both on and off the ball.
It was Nobbs' surging run that led to Hanson's goal. She then timed her run perfectly - arriving late into the box - to score Villa's third, before bursting through the middle of the pitch to finish from Hanson's ball over the top for their fifth.
Kirsty Hanson scored the second of three Aston Villa goals in the space of eight minutes
The way in which they dealt with Brighton was reminiscent of the top four-clubs. Villa certainly have the quality, they just need the consistency to go with it.
After all, they struggled to a 1-1 draw with the same Brighton team just last week. However, after righting those wrongs in such style, when they return from the international break they can look to cement their position as 'the best of the rest' before focusing on loftier ambitions in future.