Manchester United Women's Under-21s were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Chelsea in the WSL Academy League Cup final in Loughborough on Sunday.
The Reds took an early lead through Isabella Reidford but Chelsea dominated large parts of the first half to go into the break 3-1 up.
Despite creating numerous openings in the second period, United struggled to get shots on target with Chelsea happy to defend their lead.
On the stroke of full-time, Eleanor Ashton found the back of the net after an initial shot hit the crossbar but it was too late for United to find an equaliser.
FIRST HALF
It was Lewis Craig's side who dominated the early parts of the game with Chelsea struggling to keep possession.
Ashton had an early chance saved before Alyssa Aheme's shot went screaming over the crossbar.
United opened the scoring when Ashton and Aherne combined down the wing to find Redford in the box. Her shot found the bottom left corner to Chelsea goalkeeper Katie Cox stranded.
Less than 10 minutes later, Chelsea found their equaliser when they caught United out and Aimee Claypole slipped the ball into the back of the net.
The Blues looked confident after the leveller and it was not long until they took the lead.
Katie Dungate, in space down the left wing, looked up to cross directly to the feet of captain Edie Priest to put them ahead.
Just minutes later, United had the opportunity to level the game once again but Tamira Livingston could not get on the end of Ashton's low cross.
The Blues counter-attacked from the United chance with Reanna Blades receiving the ball on the edge of the box. She was given the time to to curl the ball out of the reach of Safia Middleton-Patel and make it 3-1.
SECOND HALF
United came out of the dressing room and attacked almost immediately.
Livingston beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one outside the box before passing to Ella Kinzett, but her shot went just wide of the post.
United continued to push all through the second half but despite efforts from Emma Taylor and Layla Proctor, the Reds could not find the back of the net.
Chelsea's best chance of the half came when Dungate was left on her own down the wing. She drilled the ball towards goal but Middleton-Patel dived low to push the ball out for a corner.
United continued to push Chelsea, keeping possession and getting the ball into the box, but it was not until the 90th minute that a second goal came.
The Reds hit the post with the initial shot but Ashton was on hand to convert the rebound.
Unfortunately it was too little, too late for the young United side, with Chelsea being crowned WSL Academy League Cup winners.
MATCH DETAILS
Chelsea XI: Cox, Hind, Blown, Priest, Milne, Blades, Akpan, Claypole, Potter, Dungate, Bose (Teale 83).
Unused substitutes: Humpfries, Webber, Huntrods, Nesbeth.
Goals: Claypole 30, Priest 36, Blades 38.
United XI: Middleton-Patel, Deering (Sofield 53), McTiffen, Taylor, Davies (Al-Qaimi 88), Reidford, Kinzett, Proctor, Livingston (Ishaque 71), Ashton, Aherne.
Unused substitutes: Handy, Scott.
Goals: Reidford 24, Ashton 90.
FA GIRLS' YOUTH CUP FINAL
United's U16s were beaten on penalties by Arsenal in the FA Girls' Youth Cup final.
The game finished 2-2, with Ruby Scott and Martha Allington netting United's goals, meaning the sides had to be separated by a shoot-out.
It was the Gunners who eventually came out on top, winning 3-2 on penalties.
Scott and Holly Minshull scored their spot-kicks while Livingstone, Scarlett Hill and Amelia Oldroyd could not find the back of the net.