A record crowd of over 4,000 fans were in attendance for an Albion WSL game at the Broadfield Stadium, but it was the visitors who headed home happy as they extended their lead at the top of the table.
It was always going to be a difficult afternoon for the Albion, against a United side that has now scored 13 goals in just three league games, but there were spells where the hosts competed well in tough conditions.
Indeed, Albion competed well in the opening exchanges and created a good opportunity down the right when Geummin Lee superbly fed Katie Robinson, but as the livewire winger drilled the ball into the box, she was wrongly flagged for offside.
Vea Sarri also tested England keeper Mary Earps early on, and while United started to have more of the ball, Albion defended well and in numbers.
It was, therefore, frustrating to see the visitors score with one of their first attacks of the game. An inswinging corner from Katie Zelem was misjudged by Seagulls keeper Lydia Williams and Galton was on hand to head home from close range.
Despite the setback, Albion managed to get a foothold back into the game as Emma Kullberg glanced a header over the bar, while Robinson flashed a ball across the face of goal soon after.
Williams then did well to keep out a dangerous free-kick that was glanced goalwards by United midfielder Vilde Boe Risa, but there was everything still to play for as the half-time whistle blew.
Albion created the opening chance of the second half when a deep Pattinson cross from the left eluded the onrushing Lee. The ball dropped at feet of Robinson at the far post, who in turn teed up Sarri, but Earps was equal to the effort.
On an increasingly bobbly pitch, not helped by the previous day’s rain, both sides found it difficult to get the ball down and play.
It meant a more direct game and United netted their second through a deep ball played into space down the left flank. Galton then beat Jorja Fox for pace and took the ball past the onrushing Williams before netting from an acute angle.
Albion still probed in search of a goal, through Sarri and Julia Zigiotti efforts, but United made the game safe late on with a quickfire double from their impressive substitutes.
First, Rachel Williams headed home a corner from close range, before Lucia Garcia pounced on a poor backpass from Megan Connolly to slot home.
The result left Albion still searching for their first WSL win since early November and they will be hoping for a better outcome when the two sides meet again in the FA Cup in a fortnight’s time.
Albion: L Williams, Kullberg, Morse, Fox, Pattinson, Robinson, Connolly, Zigiotti, Bance (64 Terland), Zarri (90 Visalli), Lee. Subs: Walsh, Startup, V Williams, Stott, Park, Ferguson, Carter.