Barclays Women's Super League, Sunday 16th March
As I didn't attend any football on the Saturday, I decided to pop along to Brisbane Road, home of Leyton Orient & of course Spurs Women's side too and they had a home game against Brighton in the WSL, I don't think I've watched a WSL game yet, I have seen two FA Cup finals involving Chelsea, Man United & Spurs ironically, but I had yet to see an actual top level league game, so this was the day I'd put that right.
I need to watch more Women's football in general to be honest, have slacked off big time over the last two seasons so I need to start making more of an effort to get back watching it again, so today seemed a good place to start, and it had the potential to be a very tight battle between two sides in mid table only separated by two points across the fifteen rounds of games that had gone before them.
This was one of four WSL games taking place over the weekend, two had already taken place on Friday night, and two were taking place today, including this one, more on the other games later, but let's concentrate on this game at Brisbane Road between two sides who had been struggling for form in recent months.
Spurs were trying to avoid a fourth successive defeat, whereas Albion had only won once away from home all season and were winless in seven too, and had never beaten Spurs away in a WSL encounter, three of the previous four WSL meetings between these two sides had ended in draws and, for much of the first half, it felt like this would be another stalemate.
However, Brighton grew into what was a scrappy opening period of little quality and few chances, both sets of fans tried to encourage their teams, but it was the visitors who were certainly getting up a head of steam as the half wore on as said. They came close when Tottenham goalkeeper Lize Kop had to scramble to prevent Marisa Olislagers scoring directly from a corner, before Kop did well to tip away Olislagers' rifled effort a few minutes later, but the Netherlands international was powerless to prevent the visitors' fortuitous opener, although it was a deserved lead it has to be said and you felt it had been coming.
It came when another effort from the lively full-back Olislagers cannoned off the face of Ella Morris into the path of Rachel McLauchlan, and she cut the ball back for Fran Kirby to sweep into the bottom corner from ten yards out, and send the pocket of Albion fans to my right wild with delight, Morris received some treatment thereafter after getting that ball right in her face, and she and her side certainly had a headache as they went into the break a goal behind and certainly second best so far in this one.
Could Spurs pose more of a threat in the second period? They had really struggled for fluidity in attack in the opening forty five minutes, something the injury absence of top scorer Bethany England won't have helped either as they looked devoid of ideas and confidence going forward.
Sadly for the hosts it didn't really improve too much in the second period as Brighton continued strongly after the break, comfortably passing the ball around and creating the bulk of chances, Albion had two handball penalty appeals waved away by referee Ryan Atkin, before Kop kept out headers from Nikita Parris and Madison Haley.
Could Spurs punish their opponents for not sealing the win, they tried late on to force some pressure on what had been a very comfortable visitors back line for the majority, the hosts blasted over a rare attempt on goal, but they were to end the game without a shot on target as they fell to a fourth straight loss. Very disappointing indeed.
However for Brighton it's a first ever away WSL victory against Tottenham and it moved them back into fifth place, one point ahead of Liverpool, and it ends that winless run too, which was much needed for the South Coast outfit, they certainly could have won this by more, but they will take the victory all the same.
Full time Tottenham Hotspur 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Right, three other games took place in the division this weekend, lets see how they went and how all of these games affected the table:-
Friday March 14th
Everton 1 (Payne 36)
Arsenal 3 (Russo 24,90, Mjelde 63(og))
Liverpool 3 (Smith 42,67(pen), Kerr 45+2)
Manchester United 1 (Le Tissier 89)
Sunday March 16th
Crystal Palace 3 (Nouwen 33, Weerden 53, Stengel 90+5)
Aston Villa 1 (Parker 85)
Friday night saw Liverpool stun Manchester United at Anfield, a result that city rivals Manchester City would have been happy with as it means the gap to third remains at four points, second placed Arsenal reduced the gap to runaway leaders Chelsea to eight points after they won at eighth placed Everton.
Crystal Palace picked up a huge win, and only their second of the season, against the side directly above them in the shape of Aston Villa to close the gap to just a point now, and with the bottom three sides only separated by three points, that relegation battle has certainly been re ignited today.
And Brighton moved back into fifth spot after they defeated Spurs, Liverpool had moved above them after Friday nights win, Spurs remain seventh and are only eight points above the relegation zone although this shouldn't be an issue for them you would think, although after today's performance who knows, but realistically they should be fine although they will want to halt that alarming slide they are currently on.
So, my first taste of some WSL action, I will do more over the months and seasons I promise, West Ham at Dagenham is another easy option for me, so that may be my next port of call in this division, assuming the Hammers do not fall out of the division somehow!!! That doesn't likely either but who knows!!! Thanks for reading, hope you all enjoyed.....
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