Aston Villa 0-1 Blackburn Rovers

Aston Villa Women’s Conti Cup campaign came to an end on Wednesday night as they were beaten 1-0 by Blackburn Rovers.

Ellie Leek scored the only goal of the game just before the 70-minute mark as Carla Ward’s side slumped to a second straight defeat.

Villa started the game brightly and Freya Gregory registered the first attempt from either side.

The teenager burst through the middle and breezed past a couple of blue-and-white shirts before letting fly from long range.

The attempt was fiercely struck but was straight at Alex Brooks in the Rovers goal and was comfortably parried clear.

Ramona Petzelberger was the next player to line up a drive from long distance, but her left-footed effort didn’t have enough power to seriously trouble Brooks.

The game settled down for the majority of the half but a late flurry almost saw Villa take the lead.

First, Gemma Davison’s low drive from inside the box was saved by the leg of Brooks, while Gregory’s attempted cross immediately after nearly snuck in at the back post.

Ward brought on Chloe Arthur and Emily Gielnik at the start of the second half as Villa searched for some added impetus against their Championship opponents.

Gielnik looked eager to add to her lone goal of the season when she let fly from 25 yards out, but the Australian’s effort went well over the bar.

At the other end, Rovers struck Sian Roger’s crossbar with a deflected attempt from inside the box.

Ward knew Villa still had a lot of work to do, and threw on Sarah Mayling and Maz Pacheco in the hopes of breaking the deadlock.

The crossbar at the other end was rattled when Davison let rip from inside the area, but moments later the visitors took the lead.

Ellie Leek turned home an effort from close range to give Rovers their just rewards for battling all game long, and Villa really did have work to do from there on in.

A couple of late set-pieces looked to cause Rovers a bit of danger but they dealt with the pressure well and saw out the tie.

Villa must quickly shift their focus to a final game of the calendar year, as they travel to Manchester United on Sunday.