Spurs 0-1 Aston Villa

Ramona Petzelberger’s 86^th-minute header helped Aston Villa Women beat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

The game looked destined to be a goalless draw following a largely scrappy affair, but our no.10 nodded home at the back post to cue scenes of jubilation at The Hive.

The result sees Villa move up to ninth in the WSL table on 20 points, five points more than they managed for the whole of last season.

Carla Ward made a solitary change from the side that drew with Reading last weekend.

Ruesha Littlejohn, who wasn’t quite fit enough to start against the Royals, replaced Jill Scott in holding midfield.

Elsewhere, Laura Blindkidle Brown maintained her starting position after an impressive display last time out.

The game itself got off to a cagey start.

Neither side dominated the ball in the opening 15 minutes, with both being limited to long-range attempts.

Kyah Simon’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked well before Littlejohn sliced a volley wide of the target.

The two sides went into the break level, and much of the second half passed by without many clearcut chances being created by either side.

Ward subbed on Chloe Arthur, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Jill Scott in search of some ball security as the possibility of nicking a result grew.

And four minutes from time, Villa got the goal they craved.

Maz Pacheco’s cross from the right-hand side was flicked on by Rachel Corsie, and Petzelberger was alert at the back post to head past Rebecca Spencer and make the afternoon’s work all the more satisfying.