Albion women edged out a closely-fought cup tie at Culver Road.
ALBION 2
Natkiel 3
Taylor 81BLACKBURN 1
Shepherd (pen) 66
Goals from Kate Natkiel and Amy Taylor were enough to send the Seagulls through and have a chance to meet Women’s Super League One (WSL 1) opposition in the next round.
Albion made a perfect start to the tie when Natkiel’s looping shot from distance beat Rovers keeper Danielle Hill to break the deadlock in the third minute.
Sophie Perry then attempted to double Brighton’s advantage with a shot that caught the wind and went narrowly over the crossbar.
Perry was involved in the thick of the action again moments later when she fired an effort wide from Natkiel’s cross.
Amelia Ritchie did well to weave her way into the area to set up Natkiel with a chance, but she could not divert her attempt on target.
The Seagulls continued to dominate proceedings and Perry found Natkiel, whose close-range strike clipped off the post into Hill’s hands.
Perry was provider again, this time for Taylor, whose close-range header went wide of the post.
Natkiel struck the woodwork again in the closing stages of the half, before Perry blazed an attempt over the target.
Charlotte Gurr had a chance to double Albion’s advantage in first-half stoppage time, but curled an effort wide of the left-hand post.
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Taylor had the first opportunity after the restart for the Seagulls, but Hill comfortably dealt with the shot.Gurr came close to scoring a second Albion goal after being played through by Jay Blackie, but could not find the target with a close-range strike.
But Rovers were given a foothold in the game when Blackie was penalised for a challenge on Saffron Jordan inside the box and referee Mike Desborough awarded a penalty.
Lynda Shepherd stepped up and sent Faye Baker the wrong way to restore parity to the scoreline in the 66th minute.
The Seagulls sought to quickly re-establish their lead and came close through Gurr once again, but she headed over from Perry’s cross.
But Albion did score their second of the afternoon in fortunate circumstances, after Taylor took aim from distance and her shot slipped through Hill’s grasp to make it 2-1 in the 81st minute.
Rovers still carried a threat going forward though, as Sophie Jones raced through one-on-one with Baker but sliced an effort wide of the far post.
James Marrs brought on Ellie Dorey and Bronwen Thomas for her debut in the closing stages, but there was still time for one more scare for the Albion defence.
Goalscorer Shepherd could have taken the tie into extra time but shot wide from inside the box, as Albion claimed a hard-fought victory.
ALBION: Baker; Boswell, Ashton-Jones, Ritchie; Somes (Fulgence 71), Blackie, Barton, Perry; Gurr; Natkiel (Dorey 84), Taylor (Thomas 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Wilson (GK), C Cooper, Young, Stenning.
[h=3]ALBION V LEEDS UNITED
[/h]MONDAY 29TH FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY **
[/h]TUESDAY 8TH MARCH, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V READING
[/h]TUESDAY 16TH MARCH, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
Original article
ALBION 2
Natkiel 3
Taylor 81BLACKBURN 1
Shepherd (pen) 66
- The Seagulls progress to round five of the cup
- Kate Natkiel and Amy Taylor on target for Albion
- Lynda Shepherd scores from the spot for Blackburn
- Bronwen Thomas makes her debut
Goals from Kate Natkiel and Amy Taylor were enough to send the Seagulls through and have a chance to meet Women’s Super League One (WSL 1) opposition in the next round.
Albion made a perfect start to the tie when Natkiel’s looping shot from distance beat Rovers keeper Danielle Hill to break the deadlock in the third minute.
Sophie Perry then attempted to double Brighton’s advantage with a shot that caught the wind and went narrowly over the crossbar.
Perry was involved in the thick of the action again moments later when she fired an effort wide from Natkiel’s cross.
Amelia Ritchie did well to weave her way into the area to set up Natkiel with a chance, but she could not divert her attempt on target.
The Seagulls continued to dominate proceedings and Perry found Natkiel, whose close-range strike clipped off the post into Hill’s hands.
Perry was provider again, this time for Taylor, whose close-range header went wide of the post.
Natkiel struck the woodwork again in the closing stages of the half, before Perry blazed an attempt over the target.
Charlotte Gurr had a chance to double Albion’s advantage in first-half stoppage time, but curled an effort wide of the left-hand post.
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Taylor had the first opportunity after the restart for the Seagulls, but Hill comfortably dealt with the shot.Gurr came close to scoring a second Albion goal after being played through by Jay Blackie, but could not find the target with a close-range strike.
But Rovers were given a foothold in the game when Blackie was penalised for a challenge on Saffron Jordan inside the box and referee Mike Desborough awarded a penalty.
Lynda Shepherd stepped up and sent Faye Baker the wrong way to restore parity to the scoreline in the 66th minute.
The Seagulls sought to quickly re-establish their lead and came close through Gurr once again, but she headed over from Perry’s cross.
But Albion did score their second of the afternoon in fortunate circumstances, after Taylor took aim from distance and her shot slipped through Hill’s grasp to make it 2-1 in the 81st minute.
Rovers still carried a threat going forward though, as Sophie Jones raced through one-on-one with Baker but sliced an effort wide of the far post.
James Marrs brought on Ellie Dorey and Bronwen Thomas for her debut in the closing stages, but there was still time for one more scare for the Albion defence.
Goalscorer Shepherd could have taken the tie into extra time but shot wide from inside the box, as Albion claimed a hard-fought victory.
ALBION: Baker; Boswell, Ashton-Jones, Ritchie; Somes (Fulgence 71), Blackie, Barton, Perry; Gurr; Natkiel (Dorey 84), Taylor (Thomas 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Wilson (GK), C Cooper, Young, Stenning.
[h=3]ALBION V LEEDS UNITED
[/h]MONDAY 29TH FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY **
[/h]TUESDAY 8TH MARCH, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V READING
[/h]TUESDAY 16TH MARCH, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
Original article