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Brighton & Hove Actually Women host Aston Villa Women in the WSL at the Peoples Pension Stadium |
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The WSL is back and to celebrate we are at the Broadfield to watch as the Albion play host to the Villians. Villa are far from our favourite opponents as we lost twice to them, late on last season. We have yet to see the Albion beat them. Hope today is the day. There are lots of new faces in the Brighton team, and a surprising old one. First of the new signings in Chiemeka Nnandozie who has joined from Paris FC where we remember her playing against Chelsea at the Bridge. She has had a great summer, winning the African Cup with Nigeria. A new defender is Japanese international Moeka Minami who has signed from AS Roma. Also in defence is Maelys Mpome who has joined from Chelsea. A new face in the midfield is Fuka Tsunoda who played with Kiko at Uraka Reds. Up front is Aisha Masaka who comes from BK Haken. The most exciting news is that Michelle is back. Fresh from winning the Euros, hitting the headlines and winning the Young Player of the Tournament, she is in the No.9 shirt this season. Also on loan from the Gooners is Ian Wright’s top prospect, Rosa Kafaji. Lastly, Carla Camacho, the young Spanish international who has signed from Real Madrid. Nikita left during the transfer windows to join London City as did Poppy (allegedly as there is no sign of her or an announcement yet). We have a new captain. It’s home grown hero and midfield demon, Maisey Symonds. In the back line today are Charlize Rule and Minami. Full backs are Rachel and Marisa. Joining Maise in the middle is Jelena. In front of them are Kiko, Fran and Maddie. Up front as the 9 is the mighty Michelle. The Villa news is that Katie Robbo has moved on to Everton and Ellie Roebuck has joined after being released in Barcelona's 17 player summer clearout. Rachel Daly is playing just behind Ebony Salmon. The fans have been moved around a bit with the creation of the ‘atmosphere’ section in the middle of the East Stand. We have remained in the Grumpy Old Farts Section in the West Stand. Joining us in the row behind us is the lovely Scooter. Can’t wait to compare outfits with him. It’s kickoff time. Excited? Let’s go Brighton, let’s go!
It’s the visitors with the first chance as Daly’s shot is blocked. Kiko forces a save just after. 15 minutes in and the Villa keeper is injured, disrupting the play. We can’t think where the ex-Arsenal keeper may have learnt to do that? Daly is causing a few problems for Brighton, as is Cankovic for the visitors. D’Angelo is injured again on 19 and there is plenty of time for team talks. The Villians get a flurry of corners before Daly is through on goal but is caught off-side. Shame. The first yellow goes to Chastity Grant for a foul on Michelle. Not sure that’s how fouls on Michelle work when playing Villa but it’s refreshing to see the fouler booked instead of the foulee. The Albion get the best chance yet but Maddie’s shot is well saved. Into the significant amount of injury time and Kirsty Hanson forces a save from Chiamaka. The second yellow goes to Oceane Deslandes for a foul on Kiko. 45+6 and the Seagulls finally have a corner which Maddie heads just wide. It’s still 0-0 at 45+9.
Thankfully D’Angelo has been replaced by Elle Roebuck at the break so she may have actually been injured. The first action is again a Villa shot with Rachel Maltby’s effort saved. It’s scrappy for a while with lots of fouls. There are 2 more bookings for Villians Wilms and Baijings. There are corners at both ends followed by more scrappy play and lots more fouls with Miri Taylor getting booked this time. Kiko can put us in front but just misses. The changes start on 73 as Fran is replaced by Nadine and Kiko by Bex Rayner. Michelle sees her shot blocked. There are more fouls and Marisa gets the first Albion booking on 84. Villa come so close with Wilms hitting the bar from a free kick. Carla Camacho makes her WSL debut as she replaces Michelle. Into injury time and the crowd go wild. Have we scored? No, Rachel Daly has finally been booked. Whoop de doop. To even things up, Maddie is booked. Maisie fires over to sum up the whole game in one shot. It ends, at last, at 90+6 without a goal. Drama, yes, but no goals.
That was a better game than is reflected in the result. It wasn’t exciting by any means and Serena will have seen better games but we didn’t lose to Villa. AAAnd Rachel Daly finally got the booking that has been overdue since last season. What little quality there was, ran out of luck for both team as they got closer to the goal. It made a refreshing change for the Villa players to be getting booked instead of the Brighton players being cautioned for the privilege of being fouled. They got 6 yellows in total, quite a collection for a game that was in no way aggressive. Brighton got 2 late as the ref tried to even things up a bit. Our new keeper looks good. She will take a little time to settle into the way we play out but she is an outstanding keeper. The defence looked a bit makeshift initially but worked very well. Minami looks so calm and collected, it’s like she has been at the Broadfield for a few seasons. What a signing. The team that Dario put out worked together very well and just needs to click, up front. He has recruited some firepower so it will surely come in time. There were speculative shots from both sides with Villa coming closest despite Brighton having more of the ball. It was good to see Charlize back after over 18 months out of the starting line up. She was solid at centre back and we already know what a good full back she is. A very good clean sheet to start the season and plenty to build on. Michelle looked good in the 9 and a few regular starts will hopefully see the goals and assists start to come. A shame she was denied a goal, she is owed something against the Villians after their treatment of her at Villa Park in April. Enough moaning, the WSL is back and we are unbeaten. Up next is Newhaven at home on Tuesday before our own international break.
POTM: Goes to Moeka Minami 🏅 for a calm and competent performance on her WSL debut. Her assurance belied it being her first competitive Albion game. Amazing.
The officials could have ruined such a scrappy game but managed to keep the lid on it mostly by being very shouty. He did caution loads of Villa players. Saving the best for last. We approve.
The Scran'O'meter is back to it’s best with a delicious Margarita Pizza 🍕 10/10 and yummy Latte ☕ 9/10.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| Back at the Broadfield with Sally |
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| Got a new shirt |
