Blues Women’s FA Cup journey comes to an end following a quick-fire double by the Seagulls.
Looking to set things right after dropping points to Charlton Women last week, the hosts started brightly with a place in the semi-finals on the line - a feat the club last achieved in 2020.
Sharp, intricate from the Blues frontline saw Siobhan Wilson find space to put a neat ball into the six-yard area, the Brighton backline only clearing as far as the edge of the box, the awaiting Jade Pennock’s curling effort calling Megan Walsh into action with Jamie Finn’s follow-up well wide of the target.
Wilson looked to cause issues throughout for the Seagulls, the former Crystal Palace winger working well once again to win the ball in the opposition third, immediately opting for the shot as she saw her low, powering effort whistle past the post.
Fresh off the back of her double Women’s Championship Player and Goal of the Month awards, Jade Pennock’s confidence in front of goal was always going to be a threat for Blues going forward. Neat footwork from the no.7 bypassed Victoria Williams before firing at the near post for the Brighton shot-stopper to palm behind for a corner.
Early dominance for the hosts was handed a lethal response by the visitors with 15 minutes on the clock, top scorer Danielle Carter finding space in behind before firing a venomous effort down to Lucy Thomas’ near post, pushing the shot onto the post and turned behind for a corner with a ricochet off her head.
A moment of magic from Poppy Pattinson, however, would quickly turn the tide. A looping delivery from the no.3 evaded everyone inside the box and instead found the top-left corner, Thomas failing to make enough contact to stop the ball deviating into the back of the net. A devastating blow for Blues after a positive showing.
A disappointing goal to concede, Blues were left aggrieved once again moments later when Jamie Finn was alleged to have brought down former City player Brianna Visalli in the area, much to the home fans’ dismay.
Danielle Carter continued her clinical feat from the spot by dispatching her fourth penalty of the season into the bottom-left corner to establish an instant two-goal lead just past the half-hour mark to take into the break.
Blues wasted little time in mounting a comeback from the off, Jamie Finn’s first-time effort from the edge of the area calling Walsh to tip it up and behind while Pennock’s run in behind was only to be denied by the woodwork, her shot rebounding to Finn to little avail.
The woodwork seemingly proved to be Birmingham’s biggest enemy on the day, Ashley Hodson the next to be denied from close range.
A resilient defensive performance from Amy Merricks’ side, a quick counter almost saw her side go three to the good in the final quarters. Katie Robinson found plenty of space in behind on the left side, cutting back to goalscorer Danielle Carter but this time lacked composure from 12-yards out, her attempt easily dealt with by the keeper.
A disappointing tie for Blues as they bow out of the competition, with a quick turnaround in the footballing calendar as they welcome Crystal Palace on Wednesday 22 March, kick-off 7pm.
Line-Ups:
BCFC Women: Thomas, Scott, Louise Quinn ©, Pennock, Finn, Murray, Wilson, Lawley, Lucy Quinn, Estcourt, Walker.
(Subs: Jones (GK), Harris, Simkin, Hodson, Bourne, Devlin, Jenner, Worsey, Banaras).
Brighton Women: Walsh, Fox, Pattinson, Visalli, Bergsvand, Connolly, Olme ©, Bance, Carter, Williams, Robinson.
(Subs: Williams (GK), Sarri, Terland, Stott, Ye-eun, Kullberg, Morse, Fergusson).
Comments