Page 29 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.23 2021-22

Brighton make history in Sussex Cup

Brighton & Hove Albion won the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup for the eighteenth time but
for the first time as a Development Squad after a 3-1 win against Crawley Wasps in the Final at
Lancing.
Goals from Alisha Mainwaring, Josie Longhurst and Lulu Jarvis guided the Under-21
side towards victory as an efficient Brighton side made the most of their chances.
The opening stages started off in even fashion, with both failing to create any meaningful
opportunities in the early parts of the game. Brighton tested Crawley with the first great
chances, with Mainwaring being denied by some excellent Sekara Goodall defending.
The first booking of the game fell to Brighton’s Lea Cordier after a tackle on Crawley’s
Natasha Stephens. The resulting free kick from Rachel Palmer was unsuccessful.
The Wasps threatened again but Phoebe Murton’s effort was straight at Brighton
goalkeeper Frankie Angel. This woke up Brighton up, but Crawley still continued to control the
game.
However, it was Brighton who scored the opening goal. Juliet Arimoro caused danger on
the right hand side with her blistering pace and her attempt to find Mainwaring was cleared for
a corner.
The resulting corner from Cordier found the head of Mainwaring and into the bottom
right corner to give Brighton the lead in the 25 minutes in.
Brighton almost doubled their lead moments later as Cordier once again put in an
excellent kick, her cross testing the near post of the Crawley net. Brighton would then
eventually get their second goal as Cordier was once again at the forefront.
After a short pass and one-two with Lulu Jarvis, her cross found Josie Longhurst whose
header at the far post gave their side a 2-0 lead shortly before half-time.
Brighton were the more clinical and scored with both their shots on target. Crawley did
have one more chance with virtually the last kick of the first-half, but Florence Jackson hit her
shot just wide of the post.
The second-half started with the trailing side once again threatening but failing to find
the net. Captain Naomi Cole’s corner was cleared away, before Palmer’s effort was deflected for
another corner. Palmer took it but it failed to test Angel.
Brighton responded down the other end of the pitch, with Arimoro threatening towards
goal only for her effort to whisper just to the right of the goal. They threatened to make it 3-0
but Goodall was once again the saviour at the back for Crawley to deny substitute Leah Lane.
Crawley’s Cole caused danger for the side ahead as she had not one, not two but three
corners test Angel at the near post of the Brighton net. These were denied by some resolute
defending. They would soon get their goal to half the deficit and make it 2-1 in the with under
20 minutes to go.
After a brilliant through ball, Hope Nash’s effort was saved by Angel before being
bundled in by Stevens.
With five minutes to go, after an initial flick on, Brighton made it 3-1 as Jarvis’ effort
found the bottom corner and the net to seal them the win and the trophy.
Holly Talbot-Smith won the Wasps a corner as they attempted to get back into the game.
Palmer’s cross was cleared only to find Cole, with appeals from their captain for a handball.
This was not given from referee David Joseph.
They would continue to threaten with set piece after set piece and were were put in a great
position after a foul from Faith Nukuthula on Stephens just outside the box but could not make
the chance count.
Time soon ran out for Crawley as the final whistle was blown. In the end, Brighton were
crowned champions. Becoming the first youth side to win the competition made manager
Sinead Fitzsimons very proud.
(Source: www.sussexfa.com)
Issue no. 23 - 24 February 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk