Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa were knocked out of the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup on Thursday night.

Villa fell to a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal at Meadow Park as they bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

Frida Maanum scored an impressive brace before Caitlin Foord added a third.

Carla Ward made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Saturday.

Hannah Hampton made a first start since December, while Rachel Corsie also returned to the starting XI for the first time this year.

Alisha Lehmann and Emily Gielnik formed an attacking line with Saturday’s goalscorer Kirsty Hanson.

Arsenal enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, causing danger to Villa’s goal without any direct attempts at it.

Maanum flashed a cross just wide of Hampton’s right-hand post after nine minutes as the hosts probed.

Villa punched back moments later as they broke down their own right through Lehmann and Daly.

The latter drove in a low cross which Hanson could only slice over from the  edge of the area.

Arsenal took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Maanum, having gone close previously, jinked into the area before firing the Gunners ahead.

Hanson registered an attempt on goal in search of an immediate response, but the Arsenal ‘keeper held on.

Kenza Dali then blazed a volley over as Villa frantically pursued a leveller before half-time.

They still had to remain alert at the other end, however.

Hampton flung herself to the right to deny what looked like a sure second from Kim Little, and Villa went into the break just one behind.

That deficit would unfortunately grow five minutes into the second half when Maanum rocketed an effort past a helpless Hampton.

Ruesha Littlejohn entered the fray on the hour, but not before Caitlin Foord slid home a third Arsenal goal.

Dali struck just wide from a direct free-kick as the game went into the final 20 minutes.

Arsenal saw out the remaining minutes to set up a semi-final encounter with Manchester City, while Villa's focus now shifts towards their Fourth Round Vitality Women's FA Cup tie with AFC Fylde on Sunday.