The Seagulls prevailed to a 4-2 victory over their Women’s Championship opponents London City Lionesses, and Simpkins recognised the need to do the basics well against a team that sat back and defended.
She said, “It was a job well done. We came in at half-time having had a lot of the ball and we knew that we needed to be on it and not get sloppy. It was nice in the end that we got the four goals.
“They were sitting a little deep, and to be fair to them it was working and we were getting a little bit frustrated and it was a case of us doing the basics well.”
The 29-year-old then reflected on the fact that Albion were favourites heading into the match, and how that dynamic is different compared to their league adventures.
“I think it’s good heading into a match as a player knowing the pressure is on you. You’re going to have a lot of the ball and it will give you a lot of opportunity to use it and do what you want to do, whereas in the league, we are the underdogs and maybe we don’t get a lot of the ball.
“We knew that if we stayed patient and were doing the right things, we would be okay. We enjoyed the night and we managed to get a lot of touches all round the team.”
Simpkins also managed to get her name on the scoresheet and insisted there was no debate that it could have been an own goal.
“I don’t know who’s debating that it was an own goal! I saw it go to Kate [Natkiel] and it’s something that we practise in training, going to the front stick. I managed to stretch out and get a toe to it.”