Aston Villa Women secured their first win in the Barclays FA Women's Super League this season, beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at The People's Pension Stadium.
Second-half goals from Anita Asante and Ramona Petzelberger gave Gemma Davies' side all three points on what was a resilient display down south.
The result lifts Villa up to ninth in the WSL table ahead of the Second City derby next weekend.
Gemma Davies' team selection on Sunday was a mixture of experimentation and reward.
Jodie Hutton and Shania Hayles were both rewarded for solid performances in last month's Conti Cup win over Sheffield United.
Elsewhere, Asante was deployed in a holding midfield role just behind Chloë Arthur and Petzelberger.
As far as the first half was concerned, the manager's selection was vindicated.
Hutton started with intent, and burst forward down the left without hesitation from the opening exchanges.
The forward was heavily involved from the off, and forced ex-Villan Megan Walsh into a save from the edge of the area.
Arthur was next to try her luck just shy of the half-hour mark, volleying over the bar after some good work down the right from Ella Franklin-Fraiture.
Villa looked more and more threatening with each passing minute, and they could've gone into the break at least two goals to the good.
Hutton was thwarted by Walsh once again, this time from close range after a nifty through-ball from Hayles.
Then, just as the referee indicated one additional minute, Stine Larsen rattled the post from the left-hand side of the area.
Villa started the second half in very much the same vein, and were denied by the woodwork once more.
Larsen, causing constant problems inside the Brighton area, deftly headed an effort towards the far corner but saw her effort clip the upright.
Villa were not to be denied all afternoon, however, as they finally got themselves in front on the hour-mark.
After some more determined work from Larsen, the ball fell kindly to Asante on the edge of the Brighton box.
The ex-England international brilliantly controlled a half-volley that Walsh could do nothing about; just rewards for a complete team display.
Villa then had to endure a period of pressure from the hosts in order to hold on to the lead, with Lisa Weiß making an outstanding save in the dying moments to keep the Seagulls out.
Petzelberger put the finishing touches to a fine performance, and in some style.
Sent through on goal with minutes to go, the German midfielder needed no more than one touch to cushion a lofted finish over the on-rushing 'keeper and into the net, sending Villa into delirium and up to ninth in the Women's Super League.
Villa: Weiß, Franklin-Fraiture, N'Dow (C), Haigh, Siems, Asante, Arthur, Petzelberger, Larsen, Hayles (Ewers 68'), Hutton (Silva 77')
Unused subs: Clarke, Ale, Follis, West, Syme, Hanssen
Goals: Asante (59'), Petzelberger (90')
