Reading 0-5 Villa

Aston Villa Women returned to winning ways on Sunday as they beat Reading 5-0 at Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Rachel Daly notched her second hat-trick of the season in fine style, while Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson also struck for a rampant Villa side.

The win is Villa's first in five games and solidifies their place in fifth.

Carla Ward made two changes from the side that started last weekend’s heartbreaking defeat to Manchester United.

Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson both returned to the starting XI to support Rachel Daly in the final third.

The former had been left out of the lineup for the previous couple of games, while Hanson was ineligible to face her parent club last time out.

The pair to make way were Ruesha Littlejohn and Jordan Nobbs.

Both sides began the game by feeling the other out, but Reading did generate a first sight of goal when Rachel Rowe thumped an effort just over the bar from distance.

Villa, however, would break the deadlock with their first meaningful attack of the afternoon.

Hanson marauded down the left-hand side before driving in a low cross, leaving Daly the task of sliding the ball home in customary fashion.

That goal seemed to boost the confidence levels of the visitors and they were close to doubling their lead on 30 minutes when Hanson’s cushioned header drifted just wide of the post.

Hanson did deservedly get herself on the scoresheet when she slotted into an unguarded net on 44 minutes, but that wasn’t before Lehmann turned in Daly’s centre to put Villa into a commanding position.

Villa headed into the break three goals to the good but were hungry for more after the interval.

Dan Turner planted a close-range header straight into the hands of Grace Moloney following a Kenza Dali free-kick.

The next goal would come soon after as Daly slammed home a cutback from Dali.

The four-goal lead meant Carla Ward could afford to throw on Remi Allen and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah with a little over 30 minutes remaining.

The former has been out of action for over a year with an ACL tear, while Boye-Hlorkah has been sidelined since October.

The changes didn’t halt Villa’s momentum as Daly bagged her hat-trick in typically ruthless style.

Villa saw out a thumping win and will now look ahead to a final home game of the season against Liverpool and two weeks' time.