Arsenal U21s edged a seven-goal thriller at Villa Park on Tuesday evening as they beat Aston Villa 4-3.
Villa never led but came close to sharing the spoils after scoring three times in an enthralling showcase at B6.
Arsenal opened the scoring inside the opening five minutes against Kerri Welsh's side when a Gunners attacker slotted the ball past the onrushing Anna Draper.
Villa responded well to going behind and Mary McAteer produced a long-range effort that she dragged just wide.
And it wasn’t much longer before the hosts were back on level terms.
Alice Keitley bundled an effort towards goal following an Olivia Rabjohn cross before prodding in the rebound from her first attempt.
The back-and-forth affair would continue, however, when Arsenal regained the lead just six minutes later.
Another cool finish in front of goal put the Gunners ahead for the second time in the first 20 minutes.
As was the case after the opening goal of the game, Villa went in search of their own goal as Lauren Purchase shot over from just inside the box.
McAteer added further pressure to the Arsenal goal when she sent an effort towards goal following a mix-up at the back, but the attempt was straight down the throat of the visiting ‘keeper.
Despite the Villa pressure, it would be the Gunners who would strike next and secure a strong foothold on proceedings when they went 3-1 up on 42 minutes.
That advantage would be cut back to one goal going into the break, though.
Olivia Rabjohn, possessive of a wicked dead-ball delivery, whipped in a corner that snuck inside the near post to give Villa a lifeline.
Arsenal added to their lead once again in the second half, though, when they dispatched a penalty with aplomb to really put themselves in the ascendency with 25 minutes to play.
Such was the transitional nature of the game, Villa fought back again when Olivia Rabjohn's corner was nodded in at the beginning of added time.
McAteer made rampaging runs down both flanks during the second half, and almost snuck an effort in at the near post that would have secured a dramatic 4-4 draw.
But, it wasn't to be.
The curtain comes down on a fantastic season for Kerri Welsh, her staff and players. The future is bright.
