Kate Natkiel scores an equaliser.
Image by: Shane Healey
COVENTRY 2
Hughes 5
Brook 63ALBION 2
Natkiel 27
Perry 90+2
- Sophie Perry scores a stoppage time free-kick to salvage a point for Brighton
- Albion extend their unbeaten run to 12 games
- The Seagulls are nine points clear at the top of the league
- Brighton’s 10-match winning streak comes to an end
Albion’s lead at the top of the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division table is now nine points, while Coventry remain 14 points behind the Seagulls with four games in hand.
Brighton were dealt an early blow when a poor back-pass allowed Amber Hughes to slot the ball past Faye Baker and give Coventry the lead after five minutes.
Albion replied to the set-back with pressure of their own, as Kirsty Barton came close with a drive from distance. Amy Taylor then picked out Charlotte Gurr at the back post, but the latter’s header was straight at goalkeeper Sue Wood.
Brighton were soon level through Kate Natkiel. The Albion forward volleyed home from a cross after 27 minutes to make it 1-1.
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Albion had the wind behind them in the second half and used the weather to pressure the Coventry goal. Deanna Cooper tested Wood, before Taylor came close again with a curling effort.Gurr had a fantastic opportunity to give Brighton the lead on the hour mark after Lucy Somes had picked her out, but Albion’s top goalscorer blazed over the bar from close range.
Albion’s missed chances came back to haunt them when Jade Brook’s long-range effort beat Baker and restored Coventry’s lead.
James Marrs made a triple substitution with just over 20 minutes remaining, which saw the introduction of Sophie Perry, Lisa Fulgence, and the return of midfielder Lily Agg.
Coventry looked to have had all three points wrapped up until Perry stepped up to hammer home a free-kick to level the scores deep into injury time.*
The draw is the first time Albion have dropped points in the league since 8th November 2015, but the point keeps title-chasing Coventry at arms length with just three league games remaining for Brighton.
Marrs’s side will return to the Sussex County FA HQ at Culver Road next Sunday to host Blackburn Rovers in an SSE Women’s FA Cup fourth round cup tie.
ALBION: F Baker; E Baker, D Cooper, Ashton-Jones; Blackie (Perry 69), Barton, Boswell (Agg 69), Somes, Gurr (Fulgence 69); Natkiel, Taylor.
SUBS NOT USED: Towers (GK), 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]FRIDAY 11TH MARCH, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
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