Aston Villa 2 United Women 3

Villa took the lead twice in the game through Rachel Daly, but Marc Skinner's side resilience paid off as we came from behind twice to clinch the win. 

Just minutes after Villa took the lead, Leah Galton found the back of the net with a well placed header. The hosts restored their lead just before half-time, but Nikita Parris headed home in the second 45 to level things up once again. 

With just seconds of injury time left on the clock, substitute Millie Turner's thumping header from Katie Zelem's free-kick secured all three points at the death. 

FIRST HALF

Skinner opted for an unchanged side from the team that beat Arsenal 1-0 last week, courtesy of Alessia Russo’s first-half strike. Both Aoife Mannion and Nikita Parris retain their place in the starting XI after coming in against the Gunners last time out.

Alessia Russo had an early chance coming in from the left but didn't get the desired connection on the ball, as it was easily saved by Hannah Hampton.

The Reds showed some lovely combination play down the left wing between Galton and Ella Toone before Hannah Blundell found Katie Zelem in space. The Reds’ captain took her time to take the shot but it skimmed past the post.

Despite the early chances for Skinner’s side, it was Villa who took the lead after just nine minutes. Rachel Daly got her head on a corner swung in from Lucy Staniforth and her looping header beat the out-stretched Mary Earps. 

It did not take long before United were back in the game, though, thanks to none other than Galton.

Ona Batlle, who had already made her presence known down the righthand side, found Galton in the box as our no.11 bundled the ball over the line. 

Another looping corner from Staniforth nearly led to a second for Villa, but Anna Patten, who rose highest to meet the ball, found her header hit the crossbar. The Reds had the chance to take the lead just after the half-hour mark as Villa failed to clear their lines, as the ball fell to Galton once again but her strike was saved by an impressive low-diving Hampton.

Shortly after, Villa restored their lead. Getting her second of the evening, Daly got on the end of Jordan Nobbs’s cross to half volley the ball past Earps.

SECOND HALF

United came out from half-time strongly once again with early chances coming from Galton and Russo. The opening ten minutes of the second half saw a frustrated Reds side struggle to find space in the box.

On the hour mark, Russo’s long-range attempt went flying over the crossbar and Villa broke quickly from the resulting goal-kick. After some sublime one-two football, Daly went for a hattrick but saw her powerful shot hit the crossbar and go over. 

Moments later, United capitalised on her miss by levelling things up once again through Nikita Parris. The cross came in from Blundell and the England forward, free at the back post, saw her powerful header fly past Hampton between the sticks. 

Parris’ goal seemed to give United the burst they needed. Substitute Lucia Garcia found Toone free in the box before Martha Thomas’s fell just short of its intended target.  

We continued to press with Rachel Williams, who had replaced Alessia Russo earlier in the game, receiving the ball in the box. Her pass found Toone in plenty of space but our no.7 could not get the ball past an impressive Hampton.

In the closing minutes, Skinner's side pressed for the winning goal as Vilde Boe Risa came on for Ella Toone at the start of stoppage time. Our no.8 was quick to make herself known, winning a free-kick high up the pitch. 

Zelem whipped a pin-point perfect cross into a crowded area, with Millie Turning rising the highest to head home into the bottom corner, beyond a stranded Hampton who could only look on. 

The victory makes it six games unbeaten for Skinner’s side as they continue their push for the WSL title.

MATCH DETAILS

Aston Villa XI: Hampton, Mayling, Daly, Dali, Staniforth, Turner, Patten, Blindkilde Brown, Littlejohn (Lehmann 63), Pacheco, Nobbs.

Unused substitutes: Allen, Boye-Hlorkah, Leat, Magill, Keitley.

Goals: Daly 9, 37.

Bookings: Nobbs 11, Littlejohn 32, Staniforth, Pacheco 90+1, Ward (manager) 90+5.

United XI: Earps, Le Tissier, Ladd, Galton (Garcia 77), Batlle, Parris (Thomas 77), Zelem, Russo (Williams 77), Toone (Boe Risa 90), Mannion (Turner 87), Blundell.

Unused substitutes: Baggaley, Riviere, Tounkara, Cascarino.

Goals: Galton 15, Parris 62, Turner 90+5.

Bookings: Zelem 70.