Albion's players celebrate Charlotte Gurr's goal.
Image by: Geoff Penn
LEWES 0*
ALBION 1
Gurr '34
- Albion move to the top of the league, after defeats for Cardiff and Portsmouth.
- The Seagulls secure the double over their local rivals.
- Charlotte Gurr scores from a free kick.
- Gurr has a penalty saved by Alison Cowling.
The win sees Albion move to the top of the Premier League Southern Division table after Cardiff were beaten by West Ham and Portsmouth lost to Charlton.
Both sides created chances in the opening stages, as Chloe Howe forced a save from Faye Baker with a close-range strike before Fliss Gibbons’s cross from the left was tipped away by Alison Cowling.
Baker then had to be alert to save Charlotte Bennett’s shot before Kelly Newton’s strike went just past the left-hand post.
Albion’s first clear-cut opening came when Sophie Perry’s dangerous set piece found its way to Gurr inside the box, but the forward narrowly failed to make a decent connection with the cross.
Gurr turned provider for Albion’s next chance, as her cleverly disguised free-kick found its way to Perry, but Cowling was out quickly to thwart the midfielder.
Former Seagulls striker Kim Stenning was next to come close with two attempts for Lewes, before Gurr broke the deadlock after 34 minutes - the forward curling a superb free-kick past Cowling to give Albion the lead.
LATEST NEWS FROM*SEAGULLS.CO.UK
- REPORT: ALBION 0 NORWICH 1
- GALLERY: NORWICH CITY
- VOTE FOR YOUR ALBION PLAYER OF THE SEASON
- HUGHTON: WE DIDN'T DESERVE TO LOSE
- BARBER DELIGHTED WITH SEASON TICKET RENEWALS
The hosts started the second half in lively fashion, as Stenning and Clare Trafford both blazed efforts over the bar and Bennett saw her header cleared off the line.Albion had chances to extend their lead, when Gurr fired narrowly over the crossbar from Kirsty Barton’s pass, while Charlotte Owen’s strike from distance was saved by Cowling.
Deanna Cooper was next to come close with a rasping drive from distance, before Albion were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute after Sian Cheedy brought Gibbons down in the area.
Gurr stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, but her shot produced a comfortable two-handed stop by Cowling.
Owen had a chance to score a second Albion goal, but her close-range strike produced a fine save by Cowling as Albion claimed all three points.
ALBION: Baker; D Cooper, C Cooper, Taylor; Perry, Blackie, Taylor, Barton, Owen; Somes (Ashton-Jones 64), Gurr. Subs not used: Rowe, Baker-Carroll.
[h=3]ALBION V BOURNEMOUTH**
[/h]FRIDAY 10TH APRIL, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V HUDDERSFIELD*
[/h]TUESDAY 14TH APRIL, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V WATFORD**
[/h]SATURDAY 25TH APRIL, KICK-OFF 12.15PM
Original article