Tranmerekat on Tour: Take A Canc On Me

Brighton & Hove Albion Women face Arsenal Women in the WSL the Peoples Pension Stadium

Match Summary

What a fantastic win. 4-2 to the Seagulls. One of the games of the season with a brilliant performance from front to back. Going forwards and backwards they deserved the win. It's just a shame that the crowd's demands for 5 weren’t met. That goal from Jelena was something else and we’ll no doubt see it again come the goal of the season reviews.

Match Preview

The Seagulls are back at home to play the Gunners in the last home game of the season. This is the 14th meeting between the teams. Arsenal have won the first 13 of those. We haven’t scored against them either with our deficit sitting at 23-0. We live in hope because the Albion won their last game away to Everton 3-2 with a last minute Nikita Parris header. The Gunners had a great win on the same day beating Lyon away to qualify for the Champions League Final. They played midweek after that and lost 5-2 to Aston Villa. We hope that Brighton don’t feel the backlash from that. We have lost 4-0 and 5-0 to the Ladies from North London already this season. Let’s hope that they stumble again today. It’s been scorchingly hot but has cooled right down today. It looks like rain so we’re in the stand early. A win today would secure 5th place in the WSL (theoretically unless we lose by 10 goals to Villa) because Liverpool lost away to Everton and can’t catch us. The Gunners sit 2nd behind Chelsea who have secured the title again. Man Utd have secured Champions League football for next season. A Gunners win today secure them 2nd place. If they don’t win, it’s winner takes it all when they play Utd at the Emirates next week. The calculators are really looking forward to a well deserved rest at the end of the season. They have been a bit busy with all the permutations. Back to today's match. Melina is in goal on the teamsheet but there is a late announcement that there is a change and Baggers ❤ is in goal. The back 3 are Dotti, Guru, and Caitlin. There is no sign of Poppy. More on that later. Marisa is on the left and Marit on the right. Jelena, Maisie and Fran are in the middle. Kiko and Nikita are up front. Michelle can’t play as she is officially a Gooner. The Gunners have rotated a bit. Zinsberger is in goal, That’s good news but expect her to stop the play for a nap or 2. The backline is Fox "who", Catley "who". Williamson "who" and McCabe "who". The middle 3 are Mariona "who", Frida "who", and Little "who". Across the front are Foord "who", Russo "who" and Mead "who". There is plenty of firepower on the bench with Stina “who” and recent loanee Chloe Kelly ❤. Let’s hope they don’t use them today 🙏. We got 55 minutes in the Zinsurger sitting down for treatment sweepstake 🤞. We’ve had a high 5 and a selfie with Sally. Scooter has arrived and is tucked up in his bed. The spare rows between the season tickets are fortunately filled with Brighton fans. There are not many red and white shirts in the West Stand🎉. The North is rammed with red and white. They will no doubt make themselves heard. There are fireworks and the acrid smoke ends up choking us in the West Stand. We need a fearless start from the Seagulls. Let’s go and get them.

First Half

Brighton are straight into their press. Pushing the Gunners back. Jelena plays a great through ball to Kiko. Her first touch isn’t great and she is shepherded wide. She passes it back to Jelena who forces Zinsburger to tip it over the bar. A great chance inside the first 30 seconds. And what a message to send to the visitors. The corner is taken short but it’s saved by Zinsberger. The Albion are attacking again but it’s offside against Fran. Still pressing high but the cross is collected by Manuala who is by far the busiest Gunner on the pitch. She is fouled in the area. Takes a short free kick, Mariona’s backpass very nearly ends up in the net. Nervy times for the Arsenal defense. They recover quickly and break down the right through Russo. Brighton are caught out by a fantastic early low cross to Foord. Foord is hampered by Baggers and puts it wide. The 6th minute is notable for it’s lack of an attempt on goal. Arsenal are starting to build a bit of passing rhythm. They get in a couple of good crosses but Baggers catches them all. We are impressed with Marisa’s defending. Poppy’s influence is turning her into a thug at left back. Love it. Marit almost puts into her own goal with a dreadful backpass. She fortunately hits it wide and Baggers scrambles after it but doesn’t manage to stop it going out. The away end is noisy as the resulting corner is cleared. Baggers catches another cross from Russo. Brighton are harrying the Arsenal defence and Nikita thinks she is fouled only for the ref to give it to the visitors. Caitlin manages to dispossess Beth Mead “who”. She plays in Jelena who crosses to Fran on the edge of the box. Super Fran curls it into the top corner on 16 ⚽. 1-0. Frantastic. Stick that up your Arsenal. The Gunners are straight down the left wing. A Foord cross finds the head of Russo but she clatters it into the post. Phew. It’s cleared and we get a freekick in the middle of the pitch. Pressure off for now. Arsenal “who” are struggling with the Brighton press. Marit bundles over McCabe. Marit is walking away when McCabe quickly fires the free kick straight into Marit’s back. Someone’s not happy. The first Seagulls booking comes on 21. Marisa’s challenge on o Fox is late but she makes no contact and the ball is already out of play. Silly us thinking it was a level playing field out there. Arsenal playing like they are rattled with crosses being over hit. It’s a bit more open now with both teams finding space. Arsenal not clicking up front despite a bit of possession. Baggers is picking crosses out of the air. She makes a good save from Kim Little. The Arsenal pressure is building and Caldentey puts in a great cross to the far post. Foord meets it, Bagger parries it and Foord scores at the second attempt on 29. 1-1. The singing section making themselves heard, urging the Seagulls back into it. Kiko’s shot is blocked by Little. Caldenty tries a bit of Barca trickery in the box but she is outnumbered about 6 to 1. It’s cleared and Kiko is held back by McCabe. Clearly a yellow. But no, it’s Katie “untouchable McCabe. She is allowed a much higher threshold and doesn’t get booked for anything less than GBH. How silly of us to forget that clause in the rules. The Gooners singing her song to encourage her some more. The ref has clearly been fed an updated script as we aren’t even allowed a throw in now. Baggers is forced into another good save as Mariona blasts it from the edge of the box. Seagulls fans getting behind the girls as they soak up the pressure. A great long ball in from Leah “who” Williamson is easily claimed by Baggers. Our late change of keeper is not causing us any issues. Baggers has been busy but is having a great game. Fran is decked on the edge of the Arsenal box by none other than Katie McCabe. Apparently it’s not even a foul. Arsenal pressing and probing at the other end. The Seagulls are sitting deep and we are praying for half time to come coon. It’s Frida’s turn to test baggers but she makes the save, “We love you Brighton we do”. What we love most is a great Brighton attack as Jelena’s long ball finds Kiko on the wing. Kiko’s cross finds Nikita but it’s behind her and her tame shot is easily caught by Zinsberger. Brighton are pressing and win a corner. The home fans are really getting behind the team now. The corner is cleared but Jelena appears from nowhere to hit a ferocious volley almost through the back of the net on 43 ⚽. Boom. Pick that out. 2-1. Goal of the season candidate incoming. Zinsberger gets nowhere near it but collides with Dotti and needs treatment. Dotti is then booked for being fouled by McCabe and not saying thank you. Brighton hit on the break through Fran and Nikita. Nikita is poleaxed but that’s allowed apparently. The half ends with no more excitement. 2-1 to the Seagulls. How much more excitement can we take? The ref receives some polite feedback from Fran as they walk off. Perhaps reminding her that there are 2 teams on the pitch and that one set of rules apply to both. Save your breath Fran. She has her orders. We’re glad of the break too. Need a lie down after that!

Second half

There is a personnel change for the Seagulls at the break as Fran is replaced by Nadine. Wonder if that’s an injury worry or a tactical change? Nadine playing in the 10 so who knows. Nikita picks up a loose ball in the middle, plays a forward pass for Kiko to run on to. She gets to the ball first but it shepherded wide by Leah. Brighton sitting back and looking to play on the break. There is an awkward moment in the Seagulls box as the ball runs around loose after Little shot is blocked and loops into the box. It started in the middle when the ref decided it’s ok to foul players leaving us out of shape. Arsenal press but are dispossessed. Marit plays a great looping cross to Nikita. She gets to it just before she is flattened by Zinsberger just inside the Gunner box, The ball goes out for a goal kick. Zinsberger took out Nikita without getting close to the ball but the ref must have been reading her script at that moment as she didn’t see it. The Brighton press is getting to Manuala as the ball keeps coming back to her. She gets caught out and has to play on the weaker left foot. She only manages to clear it as far as Marit. Marit lobs it into the box and Jelena lobs it over Manuela, from very close range ,into the net on 53 ⚽. What a great touch. 3-1. Dodgy keeper. The Brighton press claims another victim. The ball is won back in the middle. A long ball to the already running Kiko. She is onside but gets ahead of McCabe and slots it into the net over the stranded Zinsberger on 54 ⚽. 4-1 to the Albion. They are playing like a team possessed. It’s great to watch. Russo’s shot is easily taken by Baggers. Getting the feeling at Brighton are not done yet either. Beth Mead gets a great chance to get one back but heads it straight into the hands of Baggers. The Gunners make some changes exactly on the hour mark. Off are Little, Mead and Manuum. On are Walti, Blackstinius, Kelly. It’s the big guns that they probably wanted to save. It’s a very big ask to get back into this, even for this lot. A last change is to take off the increasingly grumpy McCabe. Maybe before it comes to blows with Zinsberger. She is replaced by January signing and USA international, Jenna Nighswonger. Arsenal setting up camp in the Seagulls third now. Chloe and Stina combine to test Baggers but she saves it well. Albion haven’t read the script and are still pushing when they get the ball. With Stina on the pitch, the Gunners can play over the press. Lucky we’ve got Baggers. Down the other end and the ball is turned over again by the pressing Seagulls. Kiko’s cross is headed just over by Nikita. There is a sudden outbreak of Tequila in the home end. That reminds us of being home with the SWA and makes us laugh. We’ve not seen Seagulls this persistent since we last tried to eat chips on Brighton beach. A Gunners corner and Leah runs into Marit’s shoulder then rolls around on the floor claiming to have been hit in the face. I wonder what Serena makes of watching her captain’s theatrics? Baggers makes another good catch ahead of an incoming Russo. She gets flattened but hangs on to the ball. What happens next is a contender for comedy moment of the season. As Baggers goes to kick the ball, the Arsenal fans behind the goal are shouting "You're S**T Ahhh” at her. There is indeed, a S**T keeper on the pitch but you might want to look at the one at the other end who is having a very bad day at the office. Baggers is playing a blinder after the late call up. If they’re being ironic, then it’s comedy genius off the scale. But they’re not, and we’re the ones laughing. Arsenal are threatening but looking a bit disjointed since the changes. And starting to look a bit desperate. Russo is playing deeper but looking tired. Brighton are defending well, getting plenty of bodies on the line. Brighton, still looking to break with Kiko not quite able to get on the end of Jelena’s cross. “We want 5 becomes the home fans chant”. I wouldn’t bet against it. Gunners close to reducing the deficit but Stina’s header goes just wide. Yet again the fans behind the goal, getting the 2 keepers mixed up. Foord gets into the box with the ball and is tackled by Nadine. Is it a foul? The half a second that Foord waits before throwing herself to the ground says it’s not. Desperate measures from the Gunners now as they are trying to play the ref instead of the ball. 15 to go and they need 3 to draw. There is a dodgy moment in the box as the ball eludes Baggers grasp but it’s cleared. Nikita and Kiko both ready for the break away. Kiko gets a sitter, is right in front of the goal but takes an extra touch then puts it just wide under pressure from Fox. So close to 5. Come on Brighton. When we break now, we are looking to keep the ball and pin them back. It provides the back 3 with a breather. Kiko and Nikita causing problems for the Gunners. Nikita wins the ball and is then hacked down by Walti. Ref waves it away as it’s not in her script and then books Nikita for complaining. We don’t need to read the script to know what it says. The big team wins. No level of damage to the integrity of the game is unacceptable. To prove the fact. She books Nadine for telling the truth after Mariona backs into her. Your truth is not wanted here. It’s hectic in the Seagulls goalmouth but the defensive wall is holding strong. The clock reaches 90 and it is time for some Brighton changes. Going off are 2 goal hero Jelena, Nikita and Maisie. Replacing them are Rachel McLaughlan, Dejana and Charlize. There are going to be 7 more minutes. Hold on to your hats, it’s going to be bumpy. The Gunners are going to be increasingly desperate. Oh dear, they can’t stay onside. A goal from nothing for the Gunners. Caitlin’s pass to Dejana is intercepted by Mariona who finds the space to curl it into the top of the goal on 90+3. Not even Baggers is stopping that. 4-2.Hopefully it’s just a late consolation prize. The whole Brighton team are in the box and blocking everything that comes in. Russo gets her best chance and a save from Baggers sees it out for a corner. Baggers sits down to receive treatment. A goal keeper receiving treatment getting boo’d by Arsenal fans is more than irony can take. Irony is broken, it is no more. The Gunners have a corner. Nighswongers looping shot is tipped onto the bar by Baggers. The ball remains in play. Guru heads it clear as Russo collides with her and lands in a heap. Arsenal play on with Russo still crumpled on the floor in the 6 yard box. The ref waits until the chance has gone before stopping play. Brighton are doing enough to slow it down and the whistle eventually goes at 90+9. A first goal against Arsenal and first points. Best team won on the day. There is a lap of honour from the squad with extra applause for the leavers in their last home game. What a bunch of heroes.

Match review

Blimey. To win both halves 2-1 and come so close to a 5th goal was outstanding. Should have saved some of the fireworks for the end. What a gutsy performance. Bodies on the line at the back and confidence up. We’ve seen flashes of that before but it all came together today. Arsenal have had better games but with a squad full of so many world class players, you would expect them to find a way to win even when playing badly. Brighton have really taken a step up today. 4-2. Wow. I don’t think anyone had that on their bingo card for today. Certainly not the Gunners. They will have wanted to get 2nd place tied down but now it goes down to the last game. That is Man Utd at the Emirate so not ideal. The Gunners are ahead so only need a draw. They finished 3rd last season and have progressed to the Champions League final having started in the qualifying rounds so maybe 3rd isn’t so bad. Makes it a long season though as qualification is before the start of the WSL. The Seagulls have secured 5th place, best of the rest, providing they don’t lose by 10 goals or more to Aston Villa who have made a late charge up the table. Another win would be good though. There were some fantastic performances out there today. First mention is Baggers who stepped up at the last minute and played a blinder. How many saves did she make? Loads! Manuala only touched the ball 4 times and those were to pick it out of the back of the net. The back 3 were immense. Using Caitlin for the outball worked great. A massive shift from the midfield including 2 goals. And 2 strikers on the scoreboard. Gutted for Nikita, she came so close to adding a 5th. No scruffy goals for the Albion today. All top draw goals. There is some more team news. The leavers at the end of the season are Poppy, Guru, Dotti and Pauline. We are certainly going to miss our favourite left ball thug, Poopy. Guru and Maria will be missed too. We have loved watching Pauline play but have not seen her much since she came back from injury. It was funny watching Zinsberger, knowing that they were behind and she wouldn’t be able to sit down to waste time. The one frustration of today is that a performance like that has been in this team all season, it just needed letting out. The Seagulls have one more game this season. We’re off on the coach to Villa Park. In the meantime, there is the County Cup Final at the AMEX. Can’t wait. Good luck to the Gunners in Oslo. Shame we can’t be there.

POTM: It’s so tough to choose today. I think it has to be shared by the 2 hero’s of the day. They are Baggers and Jelena. Two outstanding performances in a team where everyone did their bit. Thank you. We will remember this match for a long time to come.

Err-ficial feedback

The ref didn’t want to rock the boat in which the Gunners are flying high in the league so it was always going to be tough on the Seagulls. And it was. We got all the cards, none of which were particularly deserved. If the ref booked someone for descent, it was because she didn’t like a bit of honest feedback. Playing a “Big” team in the feature match on Sky will always be the same unfortunately. It should be shocking but it’s normal these days.

The Scran’O’meter loved the doughnuts 🍩 and lattes ☕. 8/10 and 7/10. Yum.

See you soon.

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