Aston Villa 1-0 Durham

Rachel Daly provided the decisive moment as Aston Villa overcame Durham in the Continental League Cup on Sunday night.

The England international tapped home from Freya Gregory’s cross to break the visitors’ resistance after 75 minutes.

Anna Patten, Kenza Dali and Laura Blindkilde had all missed chances before Daly found the net.

At the other end, Villa were indebted to Sarah Mayling for clearing Dee Bradley’s header off the line as they clinched an important win in Group A.

Carla Ward’s side came into the game knowing a victory would keep the pressure on group leaders Everton and boost their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.

However, their Championship opponents showed no fear in the early stages as they forced the hosts onto the back foot, with Georgia Robert cannoning a shot off the crossbar two minutes in.

The hosts, who grew into the game after a slow start, threatened the visitors’ goal when Gregory fired just wide after a flowing move started by captain Danielle Turner.

Dali was taking up dangerous positions as she looked to unlock the Durham defence, and she stung the palms of Naoisha McAloon with a well-struck drive midway through the first half.

Pressure was mounting on the away side as Villa built up momentum ahead of the interval, and Patten became the latest Villan to go close when she flicked Maz Pacheco’s free-kick narrowly wide.

Villa had established total control as the kept their opponents pegged back inside their own half, with McAloon called upon to thwart Dali once more before the half-time whistle.

Ruesha Littlejohn, who made her first appearance of the season, departed at the break as she stepped up her return from injury, with Rachel Corsie taking her place.

The dominance Villa had enjoyed before half-time disappeared when the action resumed, with both sides battling to be in the ascendency.

Chances were few and far between before an excellent goalline clearance from Sarah Mayling kept out Dee Bradley’s header after 66 minutes.

The lucky escape sparked Villa into life and they came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when substitute Blindkilde placed an effort wide after being put through on goal.

However, the home side didn’t have to wait much longer before they took the lead on 75 minutes. Dali played a lofted ball to the back post where Gregory played the ball across to leave Daly with a tap-in.

Daly's ninth of the season was almost immediately followed by her tenth when she saw a chipped effort slide just past the far post. 

One goal proved to be all that was needed as Villa took a big step towards qualification for the knockout stages.