Aston Villa defeat Brighton & Hove Albion in head coach Ward’s final away game

Aston Villa have defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 at Broadfield Stadium in what was head coach Carla Ward’s final away fixture before her departure at the end of the season.

Ward’s decision to step down from her position was announced yesterday and her players went on to give their all against Brighton & Hove Albion in Crawley this afternoon.

Both goalkeepers had to make routine saves in the early stages with shot accuracy being an issue in each box. Aston Villa went close midway through the half with Rachel Daly shooting wide of the near post before Brighton & Hove Albion’s Madison Haley and Elisabeth Terland fired efforts narrowly off target.

The best chance of the half came 10 minutes before the interval. Kirsty Hanson unleashed a venomous shot from the edge of the box which came back off the crossbar.

The early stages of the second half were equally as tight. It wasn’t until the hour-mark when a chance was created. Lee Geum-min shot for goal but her effort took a deflection before Danielle Turner cleared Aston Villa’s lines.

The Villans went up the other end and almost immediately broke the deadlock themselves. Daly was barged off the ball but it rolled to teammate Alisha Lehmann who fired home.

Ward’s side were soon almost 2-0 up when substitute Adriana Leon took aim for goal but her effort flew narrowly wide. Kenza Dali then shot from the opposite side of the box but the ball again went agonisingly wide of the far post.

The hosts searched for an equaliser in the final minutes of the game, however, Aston Villa showed impressive game management to comfortably hang onto their narrow advantage.

Brighton & Hove Albion complete their season at Arsenal while Aston Villa host Manchester City. Those matches are scheduled to take place in a fortnight’s time.