Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 3, Birmingham City Women 0.
Brighton WomenBrighton & Hove Albion Women3B'ham City WomenBirmingham City Women0
Lea Le Garrec's stunning strike helped Brighton & Hove Albion on their way to a first Women's Super League victory of the season against Birmingham City.
Brighton, winless in each of their opening five league fixtures, went in front through Kayleigh Green's confident penalty into the roof of the net.
The referee had pointed to the spot after a foul on Ellie Brazil, who received lengthy treatment before eventually being withdrawn.
France midfielder Le Garrec doubled the hosts' lead shortly before the break at Amex Stadium, crashing a shot in off the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards.
Green made the game safe in the second half, meeting Le Garrec's corner to add further gloss to the scoreline.
The margin of victory might have been even more emphatic for Hope Powell's team, with Emily Simpkins first having a strike disallowed for offside and then heading against the woodwork.
Abbi Grant had the visitors' best opportunity, dinking wide after going clean through, as Birmingham failed to register a single shot on target in the game.
Brighton's victory lifted them above Birmingham in the WSL table, while Blues are just two points above bottom side Liverpool, although they do have a game in hand.
Line-ups
Brighton Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Walsh
- 8Barton
- 5Whelan
- 21Le Tissier
- 3Gibbons
- 16BrazilSubstituted forLundorf Skovsenat 20'minutes
- 19Simpkins
- 4BowmanSubstituted forNildénat 79'minutes
- 7Whelan
- 27Le Garrec
- 15Green
Substitutes
- 10Natkiel
- 11Nildén
- 12Lundorf Skovsen
- 13Harris
- 14Kerkdijk
- 20Williams
- 26Bance
B'ham City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Hampton
- 7Arthur
- 3Scott
- 25Holloway
- 15Jordan
- 19Whipp
- 10Visalli
- 23GregorySubstituted forSimkinat 62'minutes
- 18Scofield
- 11Grant
- 20Walker
Substitutes
- 13Brooks
- 24Rabjohn
- 26Simkin
- 27Jones
- Referee:
- Helen Conley
- Attendance:
- 4,130
Match Stats
Home TeamBrighton WomenAway TeamB'ham City Women
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away0
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 3, Birmingham City Women 0.
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Foul by Brianna Visalli (Birmingham City Women).
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Emily Simpkins (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Amanda Nildén tries a through ball, but Léa Le Garrec is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Léa Le Garrec (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aileen Whelan.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Matilde Lundorf Skovsen tries a through ball, but Emily Simpkins is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Brianna Visalli (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from long range on the left is too high.
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Corner, Birmingham City Women. Conceded by Emily Simpkins.
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Attempt blocked. Brianna Visalli (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Birmingham City Women. Conceded by Kirsty Barton.
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Foul by Brianna Visalli (Birmingham City Women).
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Felicity Gibbons (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Amanda Nildén replaces Danielle Bowman.
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Attempt missed. Chloe Arthur (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lily Simkin.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Emily Simpkins tries a through ball, but Léa Le Garrec is caught offside.
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Foul by Harriet Scott (Birmingham City Women).
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Léa Le Garrec (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Kirsty Barton tries a through ball, but Kayleigh Green is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion Women 3, Birmingham City Women 0. Kayleigh Green (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Léa Le Garrec with a cross following a corner.
