Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly scored in the third minute of stoppage time to secure an entertaining 3-2 victory at West Ham.

Viviane Asseyi opened the scoring for the hosts before Anna Patten equalised in the first half.

Adriana Leon put Villa ahead early in the second half, while Lisa Evans levelled for West Ham before England international Daly snatched all three points late on at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

West Ham started on the front foot and enjoy spells of possessions in the opening exchanges, with Emma Harries failing to connect at the far post from Kirsty Smith’s dangerous cross.

Moments later, Riko Ueki tried her luck from the edge of the box and flashed her shot past the woodwork.

Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was called into action and produced a point-blank save from Ueki’s header inside the area.

The visitors managed to get a foothold in the game and came close through Danielle Turner, who managed to glance her header wide of the target.

Rehanne Skinner’s side were awarded a 27th-minute penalty when Smith was brought down by former West Ham player Leon. Asseyi sent the goalkeeper the wrong way as she converted her spot-kick into the bottom left corner.

Four minutes later, Villa equalised from a corner which saw Daly flick the ball into the path of Patten, who planted her header into an empty net.

Just before the half-time interval, Carla Ward’s side almost scored their second goal when Leon’s crisp effort forced West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into a smart save at the near post.

The visitors were in front in the 50th minute when Villa floated a free-kick inside the penalty area and Patten headed the ball across goal to tee up Leon as she flicked her effort into the top corner.

West Ham pushed for an equaliser and came close through Abbey-Leigh Stringer’s long-range header, which looped over the top of the crossbar.

With 10 minutes remaining, the home side were level when second-half substitute Evans’ half-volleyed strike flew into the top right corner.

Villa went close after substitute Ebony Salmon curled her effort that went narrowly wide of a post.

In stoppage time, Villa restored their lead following a great through ball from skipper Rachel Corsie into the penalty area, which found Maz Pacheco to head the ball into the path of Daly.

The 31-year-old forward produced a sublime left-footed volley from the centre of the area to find the top right corner.

The Hammers almost equalised as shot-stopper Arnold went up for the corner in the dying seconds, but Villa managed to clear the danger to secure the victory.