Brighton travelled to face Bristol in a bottom half of the table clash. Bristol started the day in twelfth position whilst Brighton sat in ninth.
The last time the two teams met in the league, the fixture ended in a 0-0 draw. Yet, with both teams looking to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone, the three points on offer made this a must win.
How the teams lined up
Bristol: Baggaley, Evans, Matthews (c), Pike, Humphrey, Salmon, Daniels, Wellings, Allen, Palmer, Purfield
Brighton: Fiskerstrand, Roe, Bowman (c), Le Tissier, Whelan, Connolly, Kaagman, Green, Brazil, Williams, Jarrett
Overview
Any fears that this would be another goalless tie were quickly forgotten with a goal by Yana Daniels in the third minute. The goal was initially thought to be an own goal, but Daniels received credit with Evans given the assist. From the goal on, Bristol were in control. Any brief spell of possession from Brighton was quickly brought to an end. The hosts’ lead was doubled when a Jasmine Matthews assist was fired home by Ebony Salmon. The half came with the Seagulls trailing by two goals.
Both teams came out for the second half with much remaining the same from the first. Bristol dominated possession.
While Brighton had moments in possession, they were quickly shut down by the Robins defence. The final goal came in the fifty-seventh minute when Bristol won a penalty following a Victoria Williams handball. Salmon fired it in from the spot to cap the afternoon off for the home side.
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Whilst the goals may have finished, the drama on the pitch hadn’t. In the sixty-seventh minute, Kayleigh Green saw red for violent conduct following an incident with Daniels.
In the end, the match concluded with a well deserved victory for the Robins. The three points aren’t enough to lift Bristol from the bottom spot. However, it does bring them within two points of the teams above them.
Stand out performances
Ebony Salmon was arguably the best player of the whole game. She outperformed everyone on the pitch by running inside the Seagulls area, stepping into defence when needed and scoring a brace. Salmon was superb in attack with the Brighton players struggling to keep up.
Inessa Kaagman created many of the away sides’ chances. At times, she pressed the Bristol defence in a way not many of her teammates managed. Kaagman has consistently been one of Brighton’s best players and today was no different.
