Substitute Symonds Secures First Goal Glory

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leicester City-WSL

14th November 2021

Line ups: Brighton: Walsh, Koivisto, Le Tissier, Kerkdijk, Williams, Gibbons, Brazil, Connolly, Whelan, Carter, Lee Leicester: Levell, Howard, Brougham, McManus, Plumptre, Purfield, de Graaf, Pike, Tierney, O’Brien, Sigsworth

Brighton & Hove Albion hosted Leicester City at The American Express Community Stadium for the FA Women’s Super League fixture. On remembrance Sunday both teams paused to honour those who gave up their tomorrow so we could have our today.

The Seagull’s started the game on the front foot as they dominated possession. Maya Le Tissier picked up the ball on the right-hand side and sent a teasing through ball over the top of the Leicester defence. Brighton centre forward Carter quickly picked up possession and closed the gap between herself and the goalkeeper. Despite the Leicester captain’s attempted block, Carter managed to force a pawed save after her powerful shot was directed straight at the goalkeeper. The foxes defence reacted to the second ball and put the ball out for a corner. Levell demanded the ball from the corner with a dominant punch.

Kerkdijk sent the ball long from within her own half in aim to pick out Carter but the ball fell short. Aileen Whelan touched the ball with her chest and let the ball run as Carter and Lee supported with runs into the penalty box. The Brighton midfielder took one to many touches inside the box and allows McManus to graciously intercept her squared ball with a smooth slide challenge. Leicester’s best chance of the first half came from a perfectly timed through ball from Molly Pike cutting the Brighton defence in half. Felicity Gibbons managed to scramble back in enough time to pressure de Graaf into an insignificant right footed shot which required an easy save for Megan Walsh. The first half came to a close with the scores locked at 0-0. The second half kicked off with an early foul as Le Tissier won a free kick in the defensive half. Kaagman bombed down the left wing and delivered an inch perfect through ball to Whelan between the full back and centre half. A low driven cross failed to pick out a blue shirt as Leicester cleared their lines conceding a corner. Connolly supplied the ball into the danger zone and the Leicester goalkeeper’s less than convincing punch fell to Aileen Whelan. A weak header left Koivisto battling with an ambitious attempt of a volley trickling wide.

Flint started an attack for Leicester as her shot ricocheted out to the left wing. A promising in-swinger was whipped in by McManus after she cut the ball back. Sophie Howard’s header was blocked crucially by Gibbon’s as she threw her body in the way performing a big double tackle. A combination of Brighton and Leicester players frantically struggled to connect with the ball within the 6-yard box before the referee called a halt in play. Brighton received a dangerous free kick in injury time, substitutes Kaagman and Symonds stood over the ball. Maisie Symonds claimed the free kick with an in-swinging right footed cross which flew over three Leicester defenders and nestled into the side netting.

The Brighton players on and off the pitch rushed to celebrate with Symonds behind the goal as the crowd jumped joyously. The strikers first goal of the season meant that the seagulls had secured the victory as the full time result ended Brighton 1-0 Leicester. As a result of the three point Brighton & Hove Albion move up to third place in the table. By Jordan Colborne.