Match report: Brighton 1 United Women 1

It was a game of two halves in the Barclays Women's Super League, as United dominated the first while Brighton piled on the pressure in the second.

Skinner's side took the lead early on through Grace Clinton, who turned in Celin Bizet's cross just 10 minutes into the tie.

This effort cancelled out by former Red Nikita Parris, who departed in the summer, as she headed in an equaliser shortly after half-time.

FIRST HALF

Brighton dominated possession in the opening five minutes but it was the Seagulls keeper and former Red Sophie Baggaley who was forced to make the first save. She got down low to her left to prevent Hinata Miyazawa's shot from sneaking into the bottom corner.

Less than 10 minutes were on the clock when United took the lead.  A beautiful cross was floated in by Bizet and the Reds had players queuing up in the six-yard box waiting to turn it goalward. It was Clinton who came rushing in, slotting it past Baggaley at the near post, putting Skinner's team in control early on.

Brighton were continuing to play it out from the back but United pressed well, causing the Seagulls all kinds of problems. The Seagulls' shot-stopper was being kept busy, as Clinton had another shot, rattling the underside of the crossbar before Miyazawa's follow-up was saved by Baggaley.

A minute before half-time, Phallon Tullis-Joyce - celebrating her birthday on Saturday - was forced into her first meaningful action between the sticks for United, diving to deny Madison Haley after the Brighton forward had found herself unmarked in the box.

SECOND HALF

The home side came out fighting in the second half and, with 52 minutes on the clock, we conceded for the first time this season. Maisie Symonds drove a powerful cross into the box and it was headed into the back of the net by Parris, who escaped her marker.

It had fuelled a fire inside these Brighton players as they enjoyed a good spell of possession and launched further attacks, testing Tullis-Joyce. The Reds had work to do. 

Maya Le Tissier, who had become the youngest player to make 100 WSL starts in the fixture, breaking the record previously held by Lauren Hemp, had her hands full with Michelle Agyemang who was showing her pace down the right. However, the United skipper put in some well-timed challenges to stop the threat.

Baggaley had very little to do in this second half but with fresh legs on in the form of Simi Awujo and Aoiffe Mannion, the Reds pushed for a winner.

Elisabeth Terland, who had been kept relatively quiet, collided with the Brighton keeper as she tried to connect with a tempting cross into the box. Moments later, Toone had her first chance on target as she found space on the edge of the area, but Baggaley watched the ball well and managed to hold onto the ball.

It felt like a battle of the keepers as less than five minutes remained of the 90. A long-range effort by Fran Kirby forced Tullis-Joyce to dive to her right. At the other end, Terland's powerful strike was tipped round the post by Baggaley.

A flurry of late corners for United were well defended by Brighton and Skinner's team had to settle for a point on the road. We head into the international break unbeaten in the WSL, with 10 points from a possible 12.

MATCH DETAILS

Brighton: Baggaley; Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Carabali; Kirby, Olislagers (Symonds 45), Losada, Pattinson; Bremer (Haley 41), Vilamala (Agyemang 45); Parris

Unused substitutes: Masaka, Seike, Auee, Poulter, McLaughlan, Loeck

Goal: Parris, 52

Bookings: Thorisdottir, Pattinson

United: Tullis-Joyce; Bizet, Le Tissier (c), Turner, George; Naalsund (Awujo 73), Janssen; Toone (Williams 90+2), Clinton, Miyazawa (Mannion 73); Terland

Unused substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Simpson, Ladd, Newell, Watson, Geyse

Goal: Clinton, 10

Bookings: Naalsund, Clinton, Mannion