1-1 v Brighton & Hove Albion - 28 April 2024 - Home

Bethany England’s third goal in as many Barclays Women’s Super League games ensured the points were shared with Brighton & Hove Albion after a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road on Sunday.

Elisabeth Terland put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute, despite Charlotte Grant and Grace Clinton going narrowly close just before that, and meant we had to fight our way back into the game once again.

England and Shuang Wang were denied by Melina Loeck on either side of the break before Kit Graham dragged an effort wide but, with just nine minutes left on the clock, Ashleigh Neville’s cross was guided home by England to equalise.

Our number nine went agonisingly close to securing the three points in injury time when her strike from 20-yards out was pushed onto the crossbar by Loeck, but we had to settle for a point.

Robert Vilahamn made three changes to his starting side that faced Manchester United last weekend as Martha Thomas, Drew Spence and Neville were replaced by Clinton, Olga Ahtinen and Grant, and the latter had a golden opportunity to put us ahead after just eight minutes.

Grant advanced from inside her own half, with Matilda Vinberg sliding the ball through to the Australia international, as she went one-on-one with Loeck, but Grant could only slot her effort wide of the post, while Clinton fired over the bar from a tight angle after some good pressure to force Maria Thorisdottir to concede possession on the edge of the box.

However, despite the positive start, it was the visitors who made the breakthrough in the 18th minute as a cross from the right-hand side was met by Terland and, although Becky Spencer pushed her initial header onto the crossbar, the Norway international was able to convert on the rebound from close-range.

We continued to carve out chances as we looked to respond in the first half, England sending a header wide from a corner before seeing her left-footed effort tipped over the bar after good work from Jess Naz down the right-hand side in her 100th appearance for the Club.

Seconds after the interval, Clinton was picked out by a lovely reverse pass from Vinberg as our number eight charged into the box but was denied by Thorisdottir, while, at the other end, Maisie Symonds took aim from distance but couldn't keep her shot down as it flew over the bar.

We made a triple change just before the hour mark, including the introductions of Wang and Kit Graham, and both made an impact as the China international forced the Seagulls' goalkeeper into a low save down to her left before Graham could only drag an effort wide of the far post after a scramble inside the box.

However, as the clock ticked towards the 81st minute, we grabbed the all-important equaliser. Neville, who replaced Grant just four minutes prior to the goal, delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right and England managed to get in front of her defender to send a looping effort over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Our captain was inches away from completing the turnaround in injury time as, in the second minute of the six allocated, she unleashed a strike from 20-yards out but Loeck was able to push the ball onto the crossbar, meaning the spoils were shared in the capital.