Kirby settles it as Albion win thriller

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Albion 3, West Ham 2: Fran Kirby scores late winner after West Ham had come from 2-0 down to level in the second half.

Bruce Talbot

2024-11-16T14:15+00:00

Fran Kirby celebrates after making it 3-2. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion strengthened third place in the WSL after beating West Ham 3-2 in a thriller at the Amex on Saturday.

Dario Vidosic’s side looked to be in control when Rachel McLauchlan – with her first goal for the club – and Kiko Seike put them 2-0 ahead just past the hour mark.

But West Ham captain Katrina Gorry struck twice from outside the box in the space of four minutes to make it 2-2.

Albion kept pressing though and with nine minutes to go Fran Kirby won it with her fourth goal of the season, a composed finish from close range.

A tidy finish from Fran Kirby makes it 3-2. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Maria Thorisdottir and Jorelyn Carabali’s absence with injury meant a reshuffle at the back for Albion with Maisie Symonds slotting in alongside Guro Bergsvand in the centre of defence.

Albion created the first chance on 18 minutes when Poppy Pattinson forced Kinga Szemik to save her left-footed shot from the edge of the box. Pattinson was involved again two minutes later with a great long pass to Nikita Parris. She was forced wider than she would have liked and Szemik parried her shot for a corner.

But the Hammers’ keeper had no chance when Albion deservedly went ahead after 28 minutes. Vicky Losada’s pass found Kirby on the edge of the box and her flick opened up space for McLauchlan to curl a left-foot shot into the far corner, with Szemik helpless.

Kirby wasn’t far away with a shot from outside the box and although West Ham created some promising attacking positions they failed to trouble Sophie Baggaley in the first period.

Kiko Seike and Guro Bergsvand celebrate after the Japanese winger doubled Albion's lead. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

Symonds curled a free-kick wide early in the second half as Albion sought the comfort of a second goal with Kirby, picking up space between the lines, always causing problems.

Albion had a let-off after 58 minutes though. Riko Ueki headed the ball across the face of goal to Seraina Piubel, but she headed over from close range. The hosts responded in the best way possible by doubling their lead on the hour.

McLauchlan was the creator this time, finding space in the box after surging down the right to pick out Seike, who was unmarked as she turned the ball past Szemik into the bottom left-hand corner.

With a 2-0 lead Albion looked comfortable but suddenly West Ham scored twice in four minutes to get themselves level.

Rachel McLauchlan is hoisted to the skies by Marisa Olislagers after scoring her first Albion goal. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Gorry, who’d just seen her shot from range clip the crossbar, tried her luck from well outside the box again on 65 minutes and this time her right-foot drive flew past Baggaley.

Game on and Baggaley came to her side’s rescue three minutes later when Manuela Pavi got in behind but the Albon keeper stood up to parry her shot. The momentum was now firmly with West Ham and they levelled after 69 minutes. Gorry caught Losada in possession and strode forward before hammering a right-foot shot which Baggaley got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from going in.

Gorry had to go off with a shoulder injury and Albion regrouped during the break, bringing on Jelena Cancovic and Michelle Agyemang. With nine minutes to go they were back in front.

Albion celebrate after taking the lead. 📷 Paul Hazlewood

Parris and Seike combined down the right and when Seike cut the ball back Kirby had time to take a touch, shift the ball onto her right foot and guide it low inside the right-hand post – a fine finish.

Albion managed the closing stages well and could celebrate their first WSL win at the Amex for more than two years.

Albion: Baggaley. McLauchlan, Symonds, Bergsvand, Pattinson, Losada (Cancovic 73), Olislagers, Seike, Kirby, Haley (Agyemang 73), Parris (Bremer 90+3).