Rianna Jarrett’s first goal for Brighton with twenty minutes to play left the Hammers paying for their wastefulness in the first half as the London outfit could not secure back-to-back wins in the WSL.
It was ninth versus eighth in this fixture as both sides looked to put some daylight between themselves and the foot of the league.
West Ham were coming into this tie off the back of their first league win of the season against Birmingham, while Brighton were on the hunt for their first WSL win since the opening matchday, which was also against Birmingham.
Brighton started the brighter of the two sides, winning free kicks in dangerous areas and attempting to play the ball behind the Hammers’ backline, which could have proved successful, if not for the timely interceptions from West Ham keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
West Ham came close to opening the scoring fifteen minutes into the game as a chipped pass found Martha Thomas.
Brighton goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand was caught in a poor position, stood directly in front of Thomas near the edge of her area. Thomas would attempt to loop the ball over Fiskerstrand’s head but couldn’t generate the necessary power.
West Ham would have the best chance of the half as Thomas again found herself one-on-one with Fiskerstrand and would put the ball past the outstretched Norwegian but unfortunately for her, she would also strike the ball past the far post.
As the first half progressed, West Ham looked much more threatening as good hold-up play by Alisha Lehmann allowed Thomas and Emily van Egmond to have multiple attempts at the Brighton goal but were unable to find the back of the net.
After a penalty shout from the Seagulls and more pressure from the hosts, the referee would call a stop to the first half with the two sides goalless.
Brighton would pile bodies forward to try to make West Ham pay for missing their earlier chances and with twenty minutes to play, Rianna Jarrett would latch onto a chipped pass, hold off Gilly Flaherty to keep possession and then chip the ball over Arnold in the West Ham net before heading the ball into the empty net to make sure of her effort for her first for Brighton in the WSL, a goal that gave Brighton a one-nil lead.
Brighton would almost double their lead instantly as Inessa Kaagman would force an acrobatic save from Mackenzie Arnold at her far post.
Jarrett’s goal seemed to have sent a bolt of lightning through the tie as West Ham became much more aggressive in chasing the game.
Martha Thomas was able to go on an impressive individual run out on the wing before driving into the box but dragging her shot past the far post again.
Brighton defended their lead with discipline as the game drew into the closing ten minutes as they were positioning their defenders well to force the Hammers into tough passes.
West Ham were not able to break down Brighton to find an equaliser and the Seagulls would take away a well-deserved one-nil win. The result keeps Brighton in eighth but the Seagulls are now four points ahead of West Ham in ninth.
The Inbound Observer 