By Aston Villa FC

Aston Villa Women maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Emily Gielnik scored what would be the winning goal shortly after half-time, her first for the club.

The result takes Villa’s points tally to seven after three games played, and lifts Carla Ward’s side further up the WSL table.

Ward made three changes from the 1-1 draw against West Ham United prior to the international break.

Meaghan Sargeant returned from injury to partner Anita Asante at the heart of defence, while Ramona Petzelberger started in midfield having made her season debut against the Hammers.

Freya Gregory was deployed on the left of a front three in the absence of an unwell Alisha Lehmann.

47%

Possession

53%
9

Shots

8
3

Shots On Target

3
5

Corners

9
6

Fouls

10

0

0

Cards

0

0

The game got off to a cagey start, but Villa soon began to manufacture chances from set pieces.

Sarah Mayling and Maz Pacheco whipped in a couple of inviting deliveries, with Sargeant volleying the latter over the bar from close range.

At the other end, Hannah Hampton got down well to push Rinsola Babajide’s effort from 15 yards around the post.

Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was next to test the opposing goal when her long-range effort was held by Megan Walsh.

Villa came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half and took the lead brilliantly.

Emily Gielnik found herself through on goal and superbly dispatched the ball past the ‘keeper to open her account in claret & blue.

Villa would go close to doubling their lead through Petzelberger, but the German midfielder fired her effort over the bar.

Hope Powell’s Seagulls went forward in search of a late leveller, but the backline of Ward’s side defended resolutely throughout in a determined display.

Focus now turns to next week, with Arsenal visiting Villa Park in front of the BBC cameras. Ticket information can be found below.

Brighton and Hove Albion Women: Walsh, Williams (Gibbons 82'), Kerkdijk, Le Tissier, Koivisto, Babajide (Lee Geum-Min 62'), Simpkins (Connolly 45'), Whelan, Brazil (Kayleigh Green 68'), Kaagman (Robinson 82'), Carter

Subs: Lee Geum-Min, Gibbons, Bance, Robinson, Stenson, Connolly, Kayleigh Green, Adebowale, Nokuthula

A Villa Women: Hampton, Asante, Mayling, Sargeant, Pacheco, Boye-Hlorkah (Hutton 69'), Arthur (Haigh 91'), Allen, Gregory (McLoughlin 66'), Petzelberger, Gielnik

Subs: Davison, Hayles, Hutton, Rogers, Haigh, Ewers, N'Dow, Blindkilde, McLoughlin

Purchase Arsenal Tickets

Supporters must log in to their Digital Membership online account for the events to appear. If you don't have one, sign up here. If you're having trouble logging in, follow our 'How to' guides for Digital Memberships and Linking your Ticketing Account.

Tickets are available within the lower tier of the Trinity Road Stand in what will be our first time welcoming fans to a B6 fixture since September 2019.
 
Should Arsenal fans wish to purchase tickets, block C3 within the lower tier of the Trinity Road Stand is available for travelling supporters.
 
All tickets will be electronic and can either be printed prior to the fixture, or presented by phone on the turnstile.
 

Ticket Prices

  STANDARD DISABLED WHEELCHAIR USER
ADULT £10 £10 £10
UNDER-18 £7.50 £7.50 £7.50
UNDER-14 £5 £5 £5
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