Aston Villa 0-1 Everton

Aston Villa Women suffered a frustrating 1-0 loss to Everton at the Banks’s Stadium on Wednesday night.

Aurora Galli’s clinical second-half strike proved to be the difference during a match in which Villa spurned several golden opportunities.

Carla Ward made an unchanged side from the one that defeated the Toffees just two-and-a-half weeks ago.

That move looked to have paid dividends when Villa came flying out of the traps.

Some of the football on display in the opening exchanges was pleasing on the eye, and a rasping drive from Ramona Petzelberger on 13 minutes encapsulated that.

The German finished off a flowing move which involved Jill Scott and Remi Allen, and it was only the legs of Sandy MacIver that denied our German forward from scoring twice in as many games.

Moments later Alisha Lehmann, another player in fine form, tried her luck but MacIver was equal to the effort once more.

Villa enjoyed much of the ball for the remainder of the first half without creating many clearcut chances.

They did, however, create one inside five minutes of the restart.

Scott, ever the venturer, stooped to head Maz Pacheco’s wicked cross but couldn’t quite find a way past MacIver.

Villa continued to push for an elusive opener as Emily Gielnik dragged an effort wide following a weaving run into the area.

It was Ward’s side who looked like breaking the deadlock until Everton jumped in front with 10 minutes to play.

Aurora Galli latched onto a long ball before slotting past Hampton with aplomb.

Lehmann almost drew Villa level instantly but fired a rocket inches wide of the post.

Everton would see out the game as Villa’s winless run at the Banks’s Stadium continued.

Attention now turns towards the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.