Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

Aston Villa fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of league leaders Chelsea at Villa Park this afternoon.

Despite a valiant display and going toe-to-toe with the unbeaten visitors it was an unavoidable late own goal from Sarah Mayling that stole the three points for Chelsea.

Natalia Arroyo named her first starting 11 as Head Coach as she brought Noelle Maritz, Lucy Parker and Gabi Nunes into the team as she reverted to a 4-2-4 line-up.

Villa started the game brightly and had their first real chance in front of goal on the 14^th minute. Hannah Hampton played a loose pass into the final third which allowed Chasity Grant to pounce on it, the ball was then flicked into Nunes’ path who spotted Hampton off her line, but attempted chip shot was just caught by the keeper.

Parker was called into defensive action two minutes later as she chased down Lauren James inside the box before strongly blocking a shot from the midfielder.

Catarina Macario whipped a corner kick into the box looking to cause trouble and Millie Bright rose the highest to meet it, but her header was collected by Sabrina D’Angelo.

Sarah Mayling rolled a pass into Grant on the 40^th minute who picked out Kirsty Hanson inside the box but her drilled shot was cleared by Bright.

The second-half picked up from where the first left one off with both teams pushing each and neither willing to give up the first goal.

Macario tested D’Angelo in goal just after the hour mark as she blasted a strike from just outside the box, but the keeper was equal to the effort.

Macario tried her luck again only a minute later as this time she tried to catch D’Angelo out at her bottom corner with a low free-kick but again the shot stopper got down to make the save.

Hanson rattled the woodwork on the 73^rd minute as a pass from Rachel Daly set her free inside the final third but her thundering strike was pushed onto the bar by Hampton.

Parker, on her first start since her injury lay-off, blocked another Chelsea effort minutes later as this time she got to down to keep out an effort from substitute Mayra Ramirez.

However, it was late heartbreak for Villa as the points were snatched from them on the 82^nd minute. Ramirez stormed down the right before fizzing a dangerous cross deep into the box looking for Maika Hamano who was waiting inside the six-yard area to tap home. But Mayling, who rightfully got down in attempt to make a quick and crucial clearance, unfortunately turned the ball past D’Angelo goal.