Leicester 0-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa Women made a winning return to the Barclays WSL on Friday evening, beating Leicester City 1-0.

Rachel Daly scored the winning goal in the 16th minute, slamming home from inside the area after seeing her initial attempt blocked.

The win, Villa's fourth in six league attempts, was a much-needed one and lifts the team up to 7th in the table.

Carla Ward made three changes from the side that started Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Everton.

Daphne van Domselaar returned between the sticks having not featured in the past three games, while Laura Blindkilde Brown and Alisha Lehmann replaced Jordan Nobbs and Kirsty Hanson, respectively.

Ward also handed a place in the matchday squad to Sophia Poor. The 17-year-old joined in the summer from Leicester City but has been rehabilitating from a dislocated shoulder.

Villa had more of the ball in their opponent’s third from the off and had a first sight of goal when Noelle Maritz fired wide after cutting inside from the left.

Our next chance found the back of the net as Daly struck from inside the area after her own shot was initially blocked.

The lead should have been doubled minutes later, but Alisha Lehmann was thwarted having been played through on goal by Adriana Leon.

Further chances were wasted by Leon and Anna Patten as Villa entered half-time wondering if it would come back to bite them.

Straight after the break, that assumption was being tested as van Domselaar saved well from Saori Takarada.

At the other end, Leon found herself through on goal but was denied by Janina Leitzig on two separate occasions.

Then came the drama.

With the clock ticking towards full-time, van Domselaar pulled off a point-blank stop before Sarah Mayling made a goalline clearance to keep the Foxes at bay one more time.

The points were Villa's, and they can now rest up ahead of a Conti Cup clash with Sunderland on Wednesday.