Crystal Palace came from behind to draw with Brighton on Sunday afternoon in an eventful Barclays Women’s Super League showdown. Known colloquially as the M23 derby Brighton and Crystal Palace have been rivals in the men’s game since the 1970s when a long standing competitive rivalry boiled over. There is a less storied history of rivalry in the women’s game for obvious reasons, but this October the two sides met in the top flight for the very first time with Brighton winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bruna Vilamala.
The sides renewed their rivalry today as Palace travelled to Broadfield Stadium hoping to end a miserable run of form in which had seen them lose five WSL matches in a row, failing to win since before the sides met in the reverse fixture in October. The Eagles could take comfort in the fact that the goal scorer that day Vilamala would not feature after she was missing from the Brighton squad. Last weekend’s results contrived to see Palace as far from safety as they have been this season their four point gap meaning that even victory on the road against Brighton would not lift them off the bottom of the table.
Brighton have endured a difficult restart to the WSL after the winter break enduring defeats to both Liverpool and Manchester United. However Abode Women’s FA Cup victory over Durham mid-week will have provided some much needed respite.
Brighton dropped their first choice goalkeeper for this encounter with Melina Loeck brought in for Sophie Baggaley after she endured a difficult evening in Manchester last week. The Seagulls made two further changes from the side that lost to Manchester United last weekend with Marisa Olislagers and Vilamala dropping out and Masie Symonds and Pauline Bremer introduced. Crystal Palace made no changes from the side that was so cruelly denied a point against Tottenham by a 96th minute winner for Spurs last weekend.
The Line ups:
BHA: Loeck, Pattinson, Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, McLauchlan, Losada, Čanković, Symonds, Bremer, Haley, Parris
CRY: Majasaari, Sharpe, Green, Nolan, Everett, Woodham, Potter, Cato, Gejl, Weerden, Stengel
The Action:
The home side began on the font foot with Madison Haley carving out the first opportunity driving to the bye-line and cutting the ball back to Bremer who was unable to make any meaningful connection from five yards out. With 15 minutes played Laura Kaminski would have been happy with what she had seen from her side who had largely nullified the threat posed by the much fancied home side. However all their good work was undone in a bizarre incident where Lily Woodham’s back pass was completely misjudged by Milla-Maj Majasaari in the Palace goal, the ball crept by her and across the line and it was 1-0 to Brighton.
Brighton energised by the opening goal looked to press home their advantage as Poppy Pattinson let fly from outside the box, narrowly missing the target. Palace showed signs of life in response with a driving run at the Brighton box from Mille Gejl getting Palace up the pitch, she laid the ball off to the onrushing Lily Woodham on the overlap who fired her shot over. Brighton continued to control proceedings only punctuated by the occasional effort from their rivals before half time.
With moments remaining in the half Brighton almost capitalised on a mistake from Palace captain Aimee Everett, who was unable to control a ball over the top with Parris lurking in behind. Majaasari came flying out of her box but failed to beat Parris to the ball fouling the English forward on the edge of the box picking up a yellow card for her trouble. Majaasari made amends with a brilliant save from the resulting free kick from Jelena Čanković.
Brighton started the second half with intent and an early effort from Bremer well stopped by Majaasari. However only a few minutes into the half Brighton were down to ten players after Symonds was given her marching orders. With the ball touched out of the path of Symonds she slid in fouling Everett before being shown a controversial red card moments later.
Brighton looked to contain Palace and pick their moments to attack on the break though Haley, Nikita Parris and later Michelle Agyeman from the bench. Palace brought on Annabel Blanchard, Abbie Larkin and new signing Clarissa Larisey to try to turn the tide in their favour. Haley and Parris combined well with just over 20 minutes to play on the left side resulting in Haley playing the ball across the box to Olislagers who controlled the ball on the turn before firing it just wide. Shortly after Palace had a half chance of their own when Blanchard fired from outside the box narrowly off target.
Palace struggled to make the extra player count, even as Brighton dropped deeper as the half wore on they were finding difficulty in making any clear cut opportunities. Yet still with just five minutes remaining Palace were level as Woodham flew down the wing, cutting the ball back to My Cato who placed the ball into the bottom corner wrongfooting Loeck.
Crystal Palace, boosted by 10 minutes of added time came forward. Woodham’s late cross rebounded off the crossbar as Brighton scrambled to regain control and the game descended into transition. With minutes remaining the match was breathless end to end football. At one end Guro Bergsvand cleared off the line, while at the other a wonderful ball from Rachel McLauchlan, – who was brilliant throughout- on the break found Olislagers clean through on goal, she fired her shot goalward but was denied the winner by the post. A late free kick from Blanchard flew just over the bar but the match would finish level and the derby day spoils were shared.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Lily Woodham
It was an unenviable start to this one from Woodham, her back pass was misjudged by her goalkeeper and gifted Brighton the lead. It would have been easy for her head to drop but the Welsh woman was a constant willing runner, always available on the outside, driving to the bye-line at every opportunity.
At a time in the proceedings where Palace were struggling for potency in breaking down Brighton’s resolute defence Woodham’s energy kept Palace pushing and ensured they always had an option. Ans it was she who set up the leveller for the visitors ending Palace’s run without a point in the WSL. Woodham showed the type of resolve Palace will need if they are to avoid the drop this season.
