WATFORD 2
Nuttall '47
Adamson '87ALBION 1
Perry '78
Brighton & Hove Albion women were knocked out of the FA Cup by Super League Two side Watford, despite a battling performance by James Marrs’s side at the Broadwater Stadium.
Strikes from Anneka Nuttall and Sasha Adamson were enough to send the Hertfordshire side into round four to cancel out Sophie Perry’s 78th-minute equaliser.
The hosts had three former Albion players in the starting eleven, with Renee Hector, Hollie Wride and Yasmin Poole all previously wearing the blue-and-white-stripes.
Albion thought they had taken the lead inside the opening minute, after a sweeping move resulted with the ball being slotted home by Jay Blackie but the referee ruled out the strike for handball inside the box.
Just seconds later Watford came close to breaking the deadlock themselves when Chloe Gunn tested Faye Baker with a looping strike from distance, but the Albion keeper reacted well and tipped the ball over the crossbar.
The Seagulls continued their bright start to the match, when Deanna Cooper headed Danielle Carlton’s free kick towards goal but Hornets’ keeper Cherie Rowlands made a fine save.
Rowlands was called into action again just moments later, as Kirsty Barton forced another good stop from the Watford shot-stopper.
Carlton’s set-pieces continued to cause the Women’s Super League side problems in the first half. Another dangerous ball was met Blackie inside the box but her first attempt was saved before Wride cleared the second shot off the line.
Albion continued to create chances and Charlotte Gurr was next to come close after reacting quickly to Barton’s flick on but headed her effort straight at Rowlands.
The hosts gradually grew into the game as Megan Wynne found Nuttall in space, but fired her shot wide.
Dawn Mallett then sent a looping ball into the box beyond the outstretched Baker, but Charley Boswell was on hand to clear the danger.
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Despite a very promising first-half performance, the Women’s Super League Two side took the lead two minutes after the restart when Wynne’s cross from the right wing was fired home by Nuttall on her Watford debut.
The Seagulls still carried a threat going forward as Blackie saw her shot blocked inside the box by Wynne and Fliss Gibbons fired the ball wide from a tight angle after Sophie Perry’s pass.
Albion came closer to netting an equaliser when Gibbons saw her header tipped over the bar by Rowlands, before Poole cleared the following set piece off the line.
But the equalising goal came courtesy of Perry, who fired the ball past Rowlands from a Gurr corner to deservedly bring Albion back on level terms.
Watford still carried a threat on the counter-attack and were almost gifted a second goal when Baker gave away the ball inside the box but Stacie Donnelly saw her subsequent shot cleared off the line.
Albion came within touching distance of completing a memorable comeback when Gurr fired another superb ball across the box, but Rowlands was on hand to deny Blackie and Charlotte Owen with two fine reaction saves.
Despite all of the visitors’ attacking endeavour, it was Watford that scored the decisive second goal three minutes from time when substitute, Adamson’s shot clipped in off the post.
The Seagulls almost sent the tie into extra time, but Gurr saw her effort cleared off the line by Wride and the Hornets progressed into round four.
ALBION: Baker; Boswell (Perry 61), D Cooper, C Cooper, Taylor, Somes (Owen 76); Carlton, Blackie, Barton; Gurr, Gibbons. Subs not used: Rowe, Markham, Ashton-Jones, Green.
[h=3]ALBION V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
[/h]SATURDAY 7Th FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V BIRMINGHAM
[/h]SATURDAY 21ST FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V LEEDS
[/h]TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 7:45PM
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