- Early goal from England captain Steph Houghton rocks Albion
- Slick second leaves Seagulls with a mountain to climb
- City lead 3-0 at the break, before adding two goals late on
- Albion now have two-week break before Liverpool visit
There was no doubt City were deserved winners, but the five-nil score line was harsh on Albion, who acquitted themselves well against a star-studded side, which included no fewer than six of England’s World Cup squad.
Hope Powell and her side knew the odds were stacked against them as they travelled north for the game, but their cause wasn’t helped as City profited from an indirect free kick early in the match.
Matilde Lundorf was harshly penalised for a pass back to goalkeeper Sophie Harris. The decision looked tough on Albion, and more so as City made them pay from the resultant free kick. Caroline Weir teed up England captain Steph Houghton, who drilled a fierce effort the ball low into the net, giving the Albion team, pinned on their line, little chance.
Georgia Stanway tried her luck from range, but saw her shot well gathered by Harris. But it wasn’t long until City doubled their lead. Full-back Janine Beckie got forward well on the right to deliver an excellent cross, which was emphatically swept home at close range by England striker Ellen White.
After a punishing opening quarter of an hour Albion found their feet and played some neat football as the half wore on. Aileen Whelan saw a speculative shot gathered by Roebuck, and more good work from Whelan, on the right flank, forced the first corner of the game for Powell's side.
Ini Umotong, leading the attack, worked space to shoot in the City penalty area, and her shot was deflected behind for a corner, but City looked a constant threat on the break, and Harris was alert to make an excellent save to deny White, one on one, after she was played in by Stanway. The Albion keeper, making her first Super League start of the season, did well to save at point-blank range.
From the resulting corner City extended their advantage from a well-worked set piece, as Stanway’s deep kick was headed back into the danger area by Houghton, and nodded in Lauren Hemp inside the six-yard box.
Albion started the second half well, and had the ball in the back on the net just before the hour mark, as City keeper Ellie Roebuck spilled Whelan’s right-wing cross into her net, under pressure from Umotong — but referee Lucy Oliver adjudged Umotong to have pushed the England keeper.
Midfielder Lea Le Garrec had half an opening, as City only half cleared, and the French midfielder arrowed a low volley from 20 yards out, but Roebuck smothered the shot.
With 20 minutes to play Whelan teed up Le Garrec, who again shot from distance, with Roebuck scrambling across goal and relived to see the effort whistle past the right-hand post.
Harris made another excellent save to deny Weir at close quarters, after a wonderful passing move ended with a one-two between Weir and Keira Walsh, that saw the former break through Albion’s defensive line. Albion’s keeper also had to be alert to gather White’s downward header moments later.
City added a fourth as Albion were undone by Walsh’s excellent long pass from midfield which picked out Stanway’s clever run from deep. She calmly rounded Harris and slid the ball home to make it 4-0. The fifth came late on as substitute Pauline Bremer improvised to loop the ball over Harris with her knee.
Albion now have a break over Christmas, before resuming their season at home to Liverpool in the Super League early in the New Year.
ALBION LINE-UP: Harris (GK); Lundorf, Williams, Kerkdijk, Gibbons; Green, Simpkins, Bowman (Le Tissier 66), A.Whelan; Le Garrec, Umotong.
SUBS: Walsh (GK), Barton, Connolly, Natkiel, Nilden.