VIDEO: Alisha Lehmann gets the winner! Aston Villa star scores in second consecutive game to seal narrow WSL victory against Brighton

Villa cemented their seventh-place spot in the Women's Super League thanks to Lehmann's 64th minute strike. The Swiss international's shot squirmed underneath Seagulls goalkeeper Melina Loeck, who was deputising for first-choice stopper Sophie Baggaley, and that was enough to secure all three points on Saturday at Broadfield Stadium. The 25-year-old also scored in Villa's 1-1 draw with West Ham last weekend.

This result comes a day after Villa manager Carla Ward announced she would step down from her role at the end of the season. Despite the club's best efforts to retain the 40-year-old's services, she wanted to prioritise her family after an intense three-year spell with the West Midlands outfit.

Ward joined Villa three years ago and led them to their highest ever Women's Super League finish of fifth last season. However, she felt stepping away from the post was the right call.

She said on Friday: "Inow believe it is the right time for me to prioritise the other important things - such as my daughter and the rest of my family life. I am immensely grateful to [president of football operations] Monchi and [director of football operations] Damian Vidagany who tried so hard to encourage me to stay in the role, but I know it is the right time to step down after our last game of the season.”

Villa will hope to give Ward the perfect swansong when they round off their WSL season at home to title-chasing Manchester City on May 18. The Villans will hope Lehmann can make it three goals in as many games after breaking her duck for the campaign late last month.