- Albion beat West Ham United 4-0 in their final match of the season
- Kayleigh Green, Megan Connolly, Amanda Nilden and Ellie Brazil all on target
- Result is Albion’s biggest victory of the season
- Hope Powell’s side secure ninth place in the FA Women’s Super League
Brighton & Hove Albion ended their first FA Women’s Super league campaign in style with an emphatic 4-0 win over West Ham United at Rush Green.
Goals from Kayleigh Green, Megan Connolly, Amanda Nilden and Ellie Brazil secured Albion's biggest win of the season against last weekend’s beaten FA Cup finalists.
Hope Powell made four changes to her side that last took to the field at the Amex just under a fortnight ago, with Beth Roe, Chloe Peplow, Ini Umotong and Brazil all recalled to the starting line-up.
Before the match, retiring West Ham duo Claire Rafferty and Lucienne Reichardt were celebrated with a guard of honour, but once play had started, it was Albion that were quickest out of the blocks.
Some good play on the right between Brazil and Roe created some dangerous crossing opportunities, before captain Dani Buet took aim from 20 yards out with a volley, which was skewed wide.
Umotong then had the first clear-cut chance before the ten-minute mark. After creating space on the left side of the penalty area, she cut in on her right foot and unleashed a fierce shot, which was well stopped by Hammers goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.
The heavens then opened in east London as West Ham searched for a foothold in the game, but it was Albion who made their chance count, with Umotong in the thick of the action once more.
Albion broke away from a Hammers corner and the Nigerian was able to nick the ball past the onrushing Moorhouse. With the West Ham defence rushing back, Umotong squared the ball for Aileen Whelan, who subsequently slotted in Green, and the Wales international made no mistake to fire home from six yards out.
As the rain eased, the Seagulls restricted the hosts to opportunities from set-pieces, and had a chance to double their lead just after the half-hour mark.
The increasingly influential Umotong once again had a chance to take aim, but Moorhouse was equal to her low drive from the edge of the penalty area.
But it didn’t take long to find the important second goal, as Connolly opened her account for the club in the 39th minute.
With Albion pressing forwards, the ball broke to the Republic of Ireland international, and her 20-yard effort squirmed through the hands of Moorhouse and over the line.
It was a quiet start to the second half for both teams, and the first real chance after the re-start came in the 70th minute.
Fliss Gibbons embarked upon a superb run on the left, skipping past three West Ham players, before Moorhouse parried her low cross straight at Aileen Whelan, who blazed her left footed attempt over the crossbar.
After a half of little action, the Seagulls finally managed to add a third goal with 11 minutes remaining.
Brazil won the ball well in midfield and played in Green down the right, who in turn hit a first time pass to substitute Nilden, who showed great composure to slot the ball low to the right of Moorhouse.
Brazil then added a fourth from close range in stoppage time to put extra gloss on a win, on a day that belonged to Albion.
This result means that Albion will finish their first FA WSL season in ninth place above Everton and Yeovil Town, giving Hope Powell a good platform to build on for next season.
ALBION: Hourihan; Roe, Williams, Buet, Gibbons; Connolly, Peplow (Simpkins 82), Green; Brazil, Umotong (Nilden 64), A. Whelan (Natkiel 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Hartley, F. Whelan, Rafferty, Barton.