Tranmerekat on Tour: I'll Stand (and fall) By You

Brighton & Hove Actually Women face Aston Villa Women in the WSL at Villa Park

The Albion are away to the Villains on the last day of the season. This time we are at Villa Park which is a new ground for us. It’s a bit of a nothing game for the Seagulls as 5th place is secured, unless Liverpool beat Chelsea and there is a 10 goal swing. Villa, who are a bit of a bogey team this season, can move up from 9th if they win, depending on other results. We are hoping 🙏 to carry some momentum from Arsenal on Monday but a hangover is equally likely. Villa are in-form and Brighton don’t play well against teams that sit back and play on the break. It’s the last game for a few of the Brighton players. No sign of Poppy so presumed gone. Hope she pops up at Real Madrid to run on the overlap 🏃‍♀️with Linda Caicedo next season. Although it was rumoured that she was going to the NWSL last year so maybe she’ll pop up at Angel City. Good luck Pops wherever you end up. Guru is in the back three with Caitlin and Marit. Kiko and Marisa are out wide. Jelena and Maisie are in the middle. Across the front three are Nikita, Michelle and Bruna. Maria, Pauline and Dejana are all leaving at the end of the season but we expect to see them all for a cameo late in the game today. The Villains have announced some leavers too. Rachel Corsie, Jordan Nobbs and Mayumi Pacheco are all on the bench for their last game. No start for Lucy Parker. Good. Rachel Daly starts up front with Ebony Salmon. In goal is ex-Arsenal keeper DeAngelo. We are in the corner of the Trinity Road Stand. The tunnels is right down the other end and that’s where the wheelie bins of fire are welcoming the players on the pitch. For one last time this season, let’s go Brighton.

It starts fairly evenly until the 5th minute when Ebony Salmon beats the offside trap and outpaces Guru to score from outside the box. 0-1. The Albion come close to an equaliser but Michelle’s shot is saved. Rachel Daly starts fouling anyone who comes near. Michelle comes close from a corner but her header is saved. She is then booked for a nothing foul. The ref explains that it’s her third foul when in reality it’s her first. Keep up, ref. Long way to go yet. The lino has missed a couple of howling off-sides. She can’t keep up with the play and we’re not sure she is even watching. Villa are pressing as we head into injury time. Katie Robinson (who) makes a good run and plays a through ball to Chastity Grant who puts it on a plate for Rachel Daly to tap home. 2-0. The Villians camp out in the Albion penalty area with a succession of corners but we manage keep the ball out of the net. Michelle comes close to another booking but just gets a talking to from the ref who doesn’t seem to like her. The Seagulls need to get themselves organised for the 2nd half.

There is a change for the Albion as, unsurprisingly, Michelle is replaced by Rachel McLachen. It’s not long until Rachel Daly is,, finally, booked for a tackle on Nikita. We think that was more than her 3rd tackle. It's a bit more end to end but Brighton struggle to find each other going forwards. The Seagulls get a succession of corners. Nikita gets a thumping header on the third one but it goes just wide. So close to the important 3rd goal. The subs start on the hour mark. Fran replaces Bruna. There is a big cheer from us as the Viilian of the peace, Daly, is replaced by Jordan Nobbs. She gets a warm welcome as it's It’s an emotional last appearance in Claret and Blue. Fran wastes no time in making a chance as it goes just wide from close range. Jordan is making an impact too as her assist is put just wide by Ebony Salmon. Albion come so so close to pulling a goal back. Kiko hits the post, it rebounds to Fran who hits the other post. Unbelievable, how is it not in the net. Has someone put magnets in the ball? Fran and Jordan both miss chances. The Albion get a clear and obvious corner but the officials change their minds and award a goal kick. Are we watching the same game? Katie Robinson (who) is subbed off so we can stop ignoring her now. Villa get the important 3rd goal on 74. When it’s 10 to go we start making some changes. Dejana and Pauline come on for the last time as Albion players. They replace Cailin and Marit. A big chunk of our defence has left the pitch. The Villians bring on a couple of leavers too, It’s Gabi Nunes and Rachel Corsie replacing Ebony Salmon and Anna Patten. Nikita is caught offside again in the last action of the 90 and we’re into 6 added minutes. Deki is booked for handball. Don’t worry about all the ones you missed though. Kiko hits on the break but it’s saved and cleared. It’s only cleared as far as Pauline who lobs it forward to Nikita. Nikita takes it wide and hammers it at the near post. D'Angelo catches it but carries it with her into the net⚽. It doesn’t cross the line by much but that doesn’t matter. It’s a goal and we can finally celebrate. We’ve got the bit between our teeth now but we can't get another before the whistle. It’s time for shirts to be donated, flags, hats and shirts to be signed. Goodbyes are said and a group photo taken. Time to go home bus 🚌.

The Seagulls definitely had a hangover from Monday. They looked slower to the ball and sloppy on it. There were formation changes again which has been a bit of a theme this season. It must contribute to the level of inconsistency from game to game. We did make enough changes but weren’t clinical enough with them. It was never going to be 0-0 with how frail both defences are. I doubt we will see Michelle or Bruna again so a big thank you for your efforts and good luck with the rest of your careers. Saying that, both of you would be welcome back for another loan season. We live in hope. The big name bias had an impact today. Like Katie McCabe is allowed to get away with thuggery that would see normal players booked so Rachel Daly had an extra level of tolerance applied to her behavior. Poor Michelle did little wrong but was targeted by the ref to protect Daly. The third goal seemed to make it too big a hill to climb but that was when we played best, where we had some momentum. The momentum dropped with the changes. It did pick up again right at the death. Only sheer determination from Keets saw the ball in the net. Energy improved with the changes but it became more fragmented. That energy ended in a goal that helped us see out the season on a bit of a high. It’s been a fantastic season for the Seagulls who were looking down and worrying about relegation last season. To be the best of the rest is a big step up. To achieve that even when there were so many disappointing performances just shows the level the team has reached. And we came within a poor refereeing decision of beating Chelsea in their "invincible" season. There are some sad departures but there will hopefully be some exciting new signings. The WSL is back in September. Can’t wait. There are a couple of games to go for us before the end of the season. First up is the FA Cup final where Chelsea can complete their treble. See you there.

POTM: goes to Nikita for the most consistently aggressive performance, holding the ball up, chasing it down and tackling like a woman possessed. And scoring a goal through sheer willpower giving us something to cheer. Well done and thanks Keets.

The officiating had a big impact on the game today and not in a good way. The inconsistent treatment of different players was awful. Rachel Daly seems to have joined the untouchables. The ref seemed to take against Michelle from the start when there was so much worse committed by others. She missed too many key moments, got big and small decisions wrong. And she was much better than the lines person on the Trinity Road side who couldn’t keep up with the play. She was guessing when the ball went out, and got so many decisions wrong from offside to corners. BUT. The officials are as they and need better training and support to manage games better and make better decisions. The PGMufcOL need to step things up for the women’s game. Try again next year.

The Scran’O’meter decided to stay at Oxford Services enjoying the lovely all day breakfasts.🥓🍳 🍄

No bottle tops were in evidence today. All drinks were draft.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾