Tranmerekat on Tour: Seagulls are doing it for themselves

Brighton & Hove Albion Women host Everton FC in the WSL at the AMEX Community Stadium

The Seagulls are at the AMEX to host the Toffees on a Friday evening in Falmer. It’s a small crowd for the stadium but more than 4500 is great for the Seagulls. They are hoping to complete the double over the Blues having won in the North West with a Terri brace back in October. It might be a popular venue for the fans but the performances here don’t match up to those at the Broadfield yet. The Albion's form has been fairly poor since we saw them in February but they come into this on the back of a win away the the King Power. Micky is still in charge. His line up has Baggers in goal. The back 4 are Li M, Guru, Jorelyn and Poppy. In the middle are Tatty, Ziggy and Maisie. Across the front 3 are Katie Robbo, Terri and Vee Sari. We like the look of that. There have been so many managerial changes in the last few seasons that it’s been very hard for the squad to settle and move forwards. Hopefully Micky can lay some foundations to build on. The Toffee’s are in a very nice salmon coloured away kit. The Danish Holmgaard sisters are in the squad but only Sara is starting. Courtney Brosnan is in goal and up front is Katja Snoeijs. We're in the West Stand behind the dugouts. We’ve had a selfie and a cuddle with Sally. There are wheelie bins of fire and then we’re off.

It starts as an open and even game with teams getting and conceding chances. Baggers is the first to be called into action and has to tip it wide. Brosnan makes a fantastic save to scoop Terrie’s scuffed shot out from behind her. It’s level at the break. Brighton would get the decision on points. They have been effective down the right through Katie Robbo and Terri. More of the same to come hopefully.

Into the second half and Brighton have the slightly better of the play again. Sarri and Pinto getting into the game. Both managers make changes on 58. Pauline replaces Vea on the left wing for the Seagulls. Everton bring on Karen Holmgaard who replaces Hanna Bennison, Brighton still have the upper hand when the Holmgaards combine as substitute Karen heads in from Sara’s looping cross on 60. 0-1. The Seagulls equalise on 62 from a Maisie freekick from just outside the box. It hits the underside of the bar and Tatiana Pinto pounces to smash it into the roof of the net just ahead of a scrambling Brosnan ⚽. 1-1. Phew. Madison Haley replaces Maisie and Lee Guem-min replaces Li Mengwen on 65. Brighton are on top now and keeping Brosnan busy. A mix up sees Jorelyn’s backpass intercepted by Aurora Gallif who is tripped by the on-rushing Baggers. Guru comes sliding in to intercept but can’t help sending into her own net. 1-2. What a mess. And poor Guru getting the credit for a mess she didn’t make. She might be a bit cross. The Seagulls create some great chances to equalise but the Toffee’s defence gets the run of luck that Brighton didn’t. It finishes 1-2 at the AMEX.

That was a good game with an awful result. The Seagulls were so dominant in possession especially in the 2nd half. For all the possession there were very few good chances. Probably enough to win it had they been a bit more clinical in the final third. And being a bit calmer at the back would have helped. We felt that the changes disrupted the team and they floundered a little at times with the changes to the back line. Not easy when the plan is to play out through the centre backs for them to be changing. Still, it was another good performance without result at the AMEX even if the downfall was our own and not the officials for once. A big one for us up next as we head to the Bridge where Chelsea face the European champions. Can’t wait.

See you soon.

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