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Brighton & Hove Albion Women host Crystal Place Women in the WSL at the Peoples Pension Stadium |
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The Seagulls host the Eagles on a sunny day in Crawley, Sussex (soon to be Surrey). Brighton have stalled in the league but are still unbeaten at home in the league. They did win 3-1 over Durham in the FA Cup on Wednesday. We didn’t go as we couldn’t get tickets for the match that was moved to the Lancing Training Centre at the last minute. The Eagles are sitting bottom of the league and looking most likely for the drop. They only have a single win so far. They have made a few signings in the transfer window so may well save themselves. It would be nice to have some rivals in the league and Sutton in an easy awayday. The team news is in and Melina Loeck is in goal with Guru and Maria in front of her. Poppy andd Rachel are out wide Last time out they played as a sort of back 3 with Poppy and then Rachel dropping into a 4 when needed. The defensive mids are birthday girl 🎂 Maisie and Vicky. Unusual to see them playing together but we like it. Cancovic, Maddie and Pauline make up the 3 with Nikita up front. There is only one familiar name on the Eagles team sheet and it’s young Lioness and Chelsea loanee, Lexi Potter. Looking at the league table would appear to favour the Seagulls but the Eagles are in a scrap for survival so will make it a tough game. Brighton are in 5th but Spurs have closed the points gap with the difference being goal difference. Need to start on the front foot today and make the possession count. Sally (the big one) was spotted leaving the car park before the game and didn’t reappear. Did she stomp off 🥾in a huff after being banned from the Redz Bar again for stealing chips 🍟 off the customers?
Starting on the front foot is exactly what the Seagulls do with Nikita missing in the first minute. Vicky’s shot is blocked then Pauline misses from range. The Eagles start to get some possession but keep falling foul of the offside trap. The Seagulls are pressing in the middle of the pitch when the Eagles have a nightmare. A long back pass is missed by the keeper and she chased 🏃 after it but it evades her and rolls slowly into the net on 22 ⚽. Poppy nearly makes it 2 when she makes herself a great chance. It's a fantastic shot but it curls just wide of the top corner. The Eagles are trying but still can’t beat the offside trap. There is a worrying moment when Maddie goes down injured in the opposition box. It looks bad but she’s tough and soon up on her feet. No penalty though. Into injury time and Nikita wins a free-kick just outside the box. Jelena hits it well but it’s saved in the top corner. The second goal won’t come and it’s a narrow lead at the break.
The second half starts well but Pauline’s shot is saved. Maisie makes a robust tackle in the middle of the pitch. It looks like a good tackle to us and most of the crowd but the ref brandishes a card. Booking her seems a bit harsh but then she directs Maisie to leave the pitch. In her wisdom the ref has given a red card. Unbelievable ref. Dismay and confusion as the birthday girl walks off and down the tunnel. Aimee Everett is down after the tackle, she gets up after treatment but soon goes down again and is subbed off. Still think the tackle was OK though. The first Albion change comes with Pauline making way for Marisa. Palace start to get a bit stroppy and get a flurry of bookings followed by a flurry of hasty subs. The Seagulls get some good chances now. Marisa, on the turn puts it just wide. Nikita’s shot is saved but results in Albion’s first corner. Whoop. Don’t score though. Maddie has given everything and is replaced by Michelle. The Eagles are putting Brighton under pressure and Melina makes a good save. She can’t save the next one and the score is level on 88. Bugger. It’s hard to follow the time as the scoreboard has gone off. It came back on briefly but has gone off again. There are 10 added minutes and chances for the Eagles. They start time wasting even throwing away the spare ball to prevent a quick throw in. Is there ref bothered? Hardly. Marisa gets the best chance for the Seagulls on 90+7 as she runs clear but it hits the post and there is no-one there for the rebound. The Eagles get the last shot but it’s well over and the bar and the whistle goes at 1-1. 2 points dropped stolen there.
The Seagulls must be disappointed that they couldn’t get that done and dusted in the 1st half. They dominated the ball but were not able to get it into the back of the net despite a few chances. Their only goal coming from a defensive howler. They still should have got it done right at the end but it wouldn’t go in. Feel sorry for Maisie, she won’t forget her birthday this year for all the wrong reasons. It was the turning point but they hung on well and nearly nicked it. I wonder how long it took to round up all the match balls after the game. Never seen so many go up on the roof with at least 10 going over. Expect to see a few of those on EBay tomorrow. Credit has to go to the Eagles player who found a new way to waste time. With Brighton attacking the far end then Palace, the ball was only down our end for 5 exciting minutes near the end. Note to self: bring 50p for the meter to help with the scoreboard.
POTM: goes to Poppy for battling and running throughout and the 2nd best shot of the day.
The ref seemed to be doing OK up until the sending off that we thought she got very wrong. And missed a few others that were as bad. There were a flurry of bookings after that. The time wasting needed clamping down on but she did nothing. The lines persons did well except for missing a howler in the first half when the Eagles no.9 was about 2 yards offside.
Scran’o’meter loves a Dough Shack margaritta pizza and gives it a 9.5/10.
See you soon.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| Little Sally |
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| Flagtabulous |
