Competition winners Ella Banbury and Emily Mason sent in their match reports for Albion's WSL game against Arsenal last Sunday.
Emily reported: After getting through to the next round of the FA Cup Brighton were back in WSL action at Meadow Park playing third place Arsenal. Hope Powell made four changes to the side, bringing Emma Koivisto, Victoria Williams, Aileen Whelan and Kayleigh Green in.
A strong and organised side started for Brighton. As the first half started Arsenal got the first corner of the game and Megan Walsh made a super save to block the first shot. A needed tackle was made so Brighton could break and as they did, a ball got played to Brazil down the line to let her take a cross into the box.
A brilliant block was made to deny Mead scoring with her first shot. Moments later Brighton were unlucky to concede a goal and be 1-0 down. The ball came in allowing Nobbs to have a swing at it with her right foot just slipping past Walsh’s hand for the first goal of the game.
As the game progressed both teams made some important tackles to keep the game at 1-0. Brighton had many attempts at goal but no goals for them. An excellent save from Walsh kept Brighton in the game and a crucial block was made by Williams to deny Miedema a shot on goal.
The score remained at 1-0 at half time.
Ella continued: The start of the second half, Miedema broke free and only had Walsh to beat but saw her shot go wide. The home side had a miscommunication between Zinsberger and defender Leah Williamson, which Simpkins tried to capitalise on, but her effort at the open goal missed by inches.
The clock was ticking when Inessa Kaagman’s free kick was headed off the line, with Albion showing they were still in it. Hope Powell made the first of her two subs bringing on Fliss Gibbons and Geum-Min Lee.
Miedema was at it again though and saw her cross come off Beth Mead and Nobbs was able to tap it in.
Into stoppage-time, Walsh had to make another save for goal hungry Miedema but it just wasn’t her day. Albion certainly put a shift in and were unlucky to go home empty handed. The final score after the whistle was blown: Arsenal 2, Albion 0.