By Hannah Chadwick (01/05/2024)
The Lilywhites are without key players Martha Thomas and Drew Spence who both picked up injuries against Manchester United. Jessica Naz also reaches 100 appearances for the club which is an amazing achievement for a young player. While the seagulls were without Australian defender Charlie Rule. Some good news for them was that Captain Vicky Losada is back from her one game ban.
A late equaliser from Tottenham superstar Beth England means that they share the points at home. Both team had a slow start as they where unable to produce quality on the ball. The seagulls manage to force a turnover which resulted in a freekick. But it was sent straight Launa Buhler who sent it on to Matilda Vinberg and into the path of Charli Grant who runs with it and takes the shot but sends it just wide of the goal. This sparked a light inside this spurs side as they picked up a loss ball and where on the run again this time through Jessica Naz who feeds it through to Matilda Vinberg, but the Seagulls managed to clear their lines once again, although it falls to Grace Clinton. who sends it in, but it’s cleared once again. Again, it’s Clinton who picks the ball up in space goes on the run towards goal, but her shot is just wide of goal and it’s a goal kick for the Brighton keeper Melina Loeck.
There is a break in play here at the Gaugh Group Stadium, as the ball goes out of play. The Spurs fans filled in the silence as play is restarted. It seemed the break in play has disrupted the rhythm of the game as neither team can find the quality to hold onto the ball. Brighton go on the run through Lee as she finds some space, she has Bremer in support who sends the cross in and Elisabeth Terland gets her head to it but its pushed out by Spurs keeper Becky Spencer but Terland gets her foot to it and its 1-0.
The lilywhites continue to push for the equaliser as Grant, England and Naz all continue to try and push through the defence. The first substitution of the game came from the seagulls as Julia Zigiotti and Maise Symonds clash heads and Zigiotti is replaced by Tatiana Pinto. Although this does seem to shake the away side as minutes later Lee Geum-Min is running straight at Becky Spencer, but her shot was blocked.
Early into the first half the seagulls dominated the ball and are showing more quality on the ball. Spurs are struggling to find their rhythm in the second half as Clinton is brought down by Geum-Min who receives the first booking of the game. Jessica Naz then fouls Norwegian defender Maria Thorisdottir who wins a freekick just past the halfway line, she finds Geum-Min but it’s cleared by Grant. This sends England and Naz on the run but a missed timed pass from Naz and collected by Brighton keeper Melina Loeck.
The pace of the game is slowing down here, and Robert Vilahamn looks to make his first changes. As Olga Ahtinen, Matilda Vinberg and Luana Buhler all make way for Wang Shuang, Molly Bartrip and Kit Graham. With just over 30 minutes left to play here, the impact of the substitutions is strong for the Vilahamn’s side as they are bringing more energy into the game. But its Brighton that go on the run towards goal trying to extend their lead through Maise Symonds who sends the cross on but the header from Madison Haley is sent wide. Once again, the Lilywhites are on the break this time through Beth England but Brighton Defender Poppy Pattison comes across to clear it. Wang takes the corner which finds the head of Amy James-Turner it then falls to Grant who sends the shot in but its tipped over the bar by Loeck.
Mickey Harris is now looking to make his first tactical substitution as Madison Haley is replaced by young English talent Katie Robinson. We have 20 minutes to play here as the battle between Grant and Thorisdottir has caused yet enough issue for Brighton as Grant keeps weaving her way through. As she sets England off towards Loeck in the Brighton goal. Symonds comes across to defend it well. Summanen is also down here after running into Symonds just outside the penalty box. We prepare for the next round of substitutions as we experienced defender Ash Neville replaces Charli Grant for spurs. Brighton also makes two changes with Elisabeth Terland being removed from the game and Emma Kullberg coming on in her place and Li Mengwen for Lee Gem-min.
With just over 10 minutes left to play the Lilywhites are looking for the equaliser while the seagulls are looking for the winner. We see the impact of the spurs substitutions as Neville picks up the ball in space and is on the run towards the Brighton goal, she sends the cross in which meets the boot of England who directs it towards goal on the stretch. Vilahamn then choses to make his final change of the game as Jessica Naz makes way for Ellie Brazil. The last 10 minutes of the game both teams are pushing for the winner but both defences are holding strong, and neither team could finish in the box. But as the seconds ticked down on the clock Tottenham thought they had the final goal as a 20-yard Beth England header came in from a Neville cross, but it hit the crossbar. The final whistle was shortly after and points where shared here in East London. Both teams had serval opportunities to see the game to a close but where lacking the quality on the ball to finish in the box.
In Roberts Vilahamn’s post conference he said that “That it was an okay first half but we want to play better for the first 60 to 70 minutes” when asked how he would sum up the performance
He was also asked about if he thinks that using England on the wing and Naz at the 9 was working well, “we wanted to make sure we had a high pressing team today and i think is the best pressing player we have (Speaking about Jessica Naz) so that was the main reason but then we also have the freedom for Bethany to step in as a second striker and be in the box as well.
Teams-
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-
Spencer, Grant ( Neville 76), James-Turner, Nilden, Naz (Brazil 82), Clinton, England (Captain), Vinberg (Bartrip 57), Ahtinen (Wang 57), Buhler (Graham 57), Summanen
BRIGHTON HOVE & ALBION- Loeck, Bremer, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Pattinson, Losada (Captain), Zigiotti (Pinto 39), Symonds, Lee (Mengwen 77), Terland (Kullberg 77), Haley (Robinson 68)
Referee- Melissa Burgin
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