A second-half surge helped Manchester United comfortably defeat Aston Villa for their first victory in three Women's Super League matches and move one point behind third-placed Arsenal.

Kirsty Hanson had cancelled out Julia Zigiotti Olme's opener for United in the first half but goals from Elisabeth Terland, Jessica Park and Hanna Lundkvist after the restart ensured Marc Skinner's side returned to winning ways.

"It's a fantastic win as it puts us right in that chasing pack," Skinner said. "We weren't good enough in the first half but we had words at half-time.

"We controlled the second half very well and it could have been six goals in the end."

United's early dominance was rewarded whenEllie Roebuck failed to deal with Zigiotti Olme's inswinging corner, which flew over the Villa goalkeeper and straight into the top‑right corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.

But their advantage lasted only two minutes as Hanson struck against her old side, finishing through the legs of Jayde Riviere to wrong-foot keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce for her seventh league goal of the season.

Tullis-Joyce, however, was on hand to keep out Maya Hijikata's curling effort late in the first half to make sure the score remained level at the interval.

United had to wait until the 71st minute to regain the lead when Hinata Miyazawa's ball into the box was knocked down by Melvine Malard for substitute Terland to fire home a first-time effort.

Jess Park then drove into the box and finished past Roebuck to give United a two-goal cushion before she played in Lundkvist to score her first WSL goal and seal the victory.

The result means United sit fourth with 25 points while Villa are seventh with 16 points.

United scripted history in midweek by reaching the Women's League Cup final for the first time at the expense of Arsenal.

Skinner's side also beat Burnley 5-0 in the Women's FA Cup fourth round last week, but their league form has dipped in recent weeks.

They came into this fixture after back-to-back draws against the Gunners and Tottenham and were searching for only their second win in six games.

But despite a difficult first half against a resolute Villa, Skinner was able to turn to his bench to turn the game around after the restart and wrap up a memorable week for the club.

All three January signings featured, with Sweden striker Ellen Wangerheim making her WSL debut and Germany international Lea Schuller almost scoring in the second half.

But the pick of the new players was Lundkvist who wrapped up the win, allowing another appearance for Layla Drury, who became United's youngest-ever player and scorer in the FA Cup win last week.

"I'm really happy with the signings," Skinner said. "[Schuller and Wangerheim] are almost in preseason now. We are trying to get them up to speed.

"[Lundkvist] is very classy. The goal was a great finish."

United are now within touching distance of Arsenal, who sit third, with defending champions Chelsea only two points ahead in second.

And they could bolster their squad further before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 3 February at 23:00 GMT.

"We are looking," the United boss said. "We will leave our minds open if anything is possible because we want to add to this wonderful team."

If they can replicate more of that second-half display in the coming weeks, it could prove pivotal in their chase of Champions League qualification next season.

A year has passed since Natalie Arroyo took charge of a struggling Villa side and she has given them a new lease of life in the top flight.

The Spanish tactician arrived armed with January arrivals Oriane Jean-Francois and Jenna Nighswonger, but she needs results if Villa are to keep pace with the big names of the league.

A goal from Miri Taylor inflicted a first defeat of the season on United when the sides met earlier in the season and they had threatened to do the double over the visitors until the floodgates opened in the final 20 minutes.

Without the influential Rachel Daly in the squad, Scotland international Hanson was their most potent weapon, going close with a shot from distance and proving a handful for United captain Maya le Tissier before she hit the target to maintain her purple patch.

Only Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw (13) has scored more WSL goals than Hanson this season.

But ultimately it was United's strength in depth that proved the difference as the Villa manager ran out of options.

Arroyo spoke about Villa's ambition of "disrupting the WSL top four" this week and though they briefly did that here, the performance underlined how much work remains if they are to do so consistently.

"It's about being ruthless and they showed that they are better than us," she said.

"We need to keep building. If we want to compete, we definitely have to defeat United. We need to learn from the second half and grow."

Aston Villa will make the trip to Everton in their next Women's Super League fixture on Sunday, 1 February (11:55 GMT), while Manchester United host Liverpool at the same time.