- Albion are knocked out of the Continental League Cup at the quarter-final stage
- Abbie McManus and Jane Ross on target for United
- Ini Umotong misses a second-half penalty, Kayleigh Green scores another
- The Seagulls are back in Barclays FA Women’s Super League action against West Ham United on Sunday
It may have been another loss for Hope Powell’s side away at the Red Devils, but the manager would’ve been pleased by the spirit and endeavour that her side showed following a 4-0 defeat at the same venue nearly two months ago.
Goals from Abbie McManus and Jane Ross in each half ultimately proved to be the difference in the hosts’ favour, but the Seagulls got on the scoresheet through Kayleigh Green’s penalty to reflect the closeness of the contest, following Ini Umotong’s earlier miss from 12 yards out.
Powell made five changes to the side that was beaten 4-0 by Arsenal on Sunday, which included the introduction of Matilde Lundorf, Megan Connolly, Kate Natkiel, Umotong, and Cecilie Fiskerstrand, who made her Albion debut in goal.
Powell spoke in her pre-match press conference of United being eager to right the wrongs of their surprise 1-0 defeat to Bristol City, and the hosts looked to do just that after taking the lead with just 13 minutes on the clock through defender McManus.
Albion cleared a corner which fell to Katie Zelem, whose in-swinging cross was prodded in by McManus at the far post.
After a spell of United pressure, Powell’s team worked a couple of promising openings, as Umotong headed wide from Natkiel’s corner. The former then turned provider for Amanda Nilden, who saw her header go over the bar.
The hosts looked threatening whenever they broke forward though, and should have doubled their advantage when Jess Sigsworth’s header cannoned off the crossbar.
Lundorf was then left to rue wasting a golden chance after she was picked out by Connolly, as she turned inside the box, but blasted her shot over the bar.
Another opportunity was missed ten minutes after the re-start when Emily Simpkins was brought down in the area by Amy Turner, and referee Martin Woods pointed to the spot.
Umotong took the subsequent penalty, and despite sending Mary Earps the wrong way, her spot-kick cannoned off the crossbar and United’s blushes were spared.
Albion continued to show their bravery and willingness to fight for every ball throughout the game, and had another chance to restore parity to the scoreline when Simpkins saw her diving header go wide from Natkiel’s cross.
But Powell’s team conceded a second and ultimately decisive goal in the 75th minute, as Sigsworth played a ball in from the right flank and Ross was there to tap home from close range. It was a cruel blow for Albion, who had more than played their part in the contest.
The Seagulls were given a route back into the game though, as Woods pointed to the spot once again after Umotong was brought down by Wales international Hayley Ladd and her international colleague Green clinically dispatched the subsequent spot-kick past Earps.
The game finished 2-1 and there will be plenty of positives for Powell to take heading into Sunday’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League match away at West Ham United.
ALBION: Fiskerstrand; Lundorf, Kerkdijk (Bowman 89), Williams, Gibbons; Simpkins (Green 71), Connolly; Natkiel, A. Whelan, Nilden (Roe 81); Umotong.
SUBS NOT USED: Harris (GK), Barton, Le Tissier, Le Garrec.