Young wins it at the death at Goodison

Ashley Young scored with the last kick of the game to give Aston Villa a dramatic 3-2 win at Everton on 7 December, in one of the most extraordinary finishes of the season.

Joleon Lescott thought he had rescued a point for Everton with an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time, but Young struck again a minute later to seal victory for Villa.

A frantic finish

The game started at a furious pace, with Steve Sidwell giving Villa the lead in the first minute. Lescott, a boyhood Villa fan, equalised for Everton after half an hour, and Young put Villa back in front early in the second half.

Lescott then scored his second in stoppage time, and it looked as though the points would be shared. But Villa went straight up the other end, and Young's winner sparked wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.

Young's season

Young, signed from Watford in 2007, has become one of the most exciting players in the Premier League and has broken into the England squad. His two goals at Goodison Park were a reminder of his ability to decide big games.

Villa on the charge

The win keeps Villa firmly in the race for a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League. Martin O'Neill's side have been in fine form, including a 2-0 win at Arsenal last month, and are proving that they can compete with the best.

They are also competing in the UEFA Cup, adding to a busy fixture list.

A busy Christmas

The festive period brings a packed schedule of matches, and O'Neill will be relying on his squad to maintain their momentum. A good run over Christmas could put Villa in a strong position for the second half of the season.

Everton's frustration

For Everton, managed by David Moyes, the defeat was a painful one after they had fought back twice. Lescott's two goals were not enough to earn a point.

Ambitions

Villa have not finished in the top four since the 1990s, and have not played in the top European competition since the early 1980s, when they won the European Cup in 1982 and reached the quarter-finals the following season. Supporters are beginning to believe that this could be the season when they return to Europe's biggest stage.

For now, the win at Goodison Park will go down as one of the most memorable of the season, and Young's late strike as one of its defining moments.

Goodison Park has been a difficult ground for visiting teams, and Everton have been one of the most consistent sides in the league under Moyes, which made the manner of Villa's victory all the more remarkable.