Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Everton Women 2.
A Brighton own goal handed Everton a 2-1 victory in the Women's Super League as the Toffees moved closer to securing top-flight safety.
Guro Bergsvand bundled the ball into her own net after Everton winger Aurora Galli had taken advantage of a mix-up at the back.
In a tightly-matched game where neither goalkeeper came under too much pressure, the first goal did not arrive until the hour mark.
Everton went ahead when twins Karen and Sara Holmgaard combined, with substitute Karen nodding a cross past Sophie Baggaley at the back post.
But the Toffees were not able to celebrate their lead for long as Brighton levelled just two minutes later.
Tatiana Pinto smashed home a rebound after Maisie Symonds hit the crossbar with a free-kick and Everton keeper Courtney Brosnan failed to clear the rebound.
Brosnan had earlier made a crucial first-half save to prevent a scuffed Elisabeth Terland shot trickling into the Everton net.
Terland has 12 goals in the league this season but never really found her footing on Friday night as she was starved of service.
Both teams mostly cancelled each other out in the middle of the park and were limited to half-chances - and it was a defensive error which gave Everton the chance to snatch the win.
While avoiding the drop has seemed a formality for some time, Everton and Brighton will both be mathematically safe by the end of the weekend unless bottom-placed side Bristol City pick up points against Liverpool on Saturday (12:30 BST).
Line-ups
Brighton Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 32Baggaley
- 26LiSubstituted forLeeat 66'minutes
- 5Bergsvand
- 14CarabalíSubstituted forThorisdóttirat 84'minutes
- 3Pattinson
- 18SymondsSubstituted forHaleyat 65'minutes
- 17Ferreira PintoBooked at 59minsSubstituted forKullbergat 84'minutes
- 10Olme
- 22Robinson
- 11Terland
- 7SarriSubstituted forBremerat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Thorisdóttir
- 8Bremer
- 9Lee
- 16Kullberg
- 20Stefanovic
- 21Haley
- 28Loeck
- 44McEwan
- 45Dent
Everton Women
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Brosnan
- 17HopeSubstituted forBissellat 73'minutes
- 8Vanhaevermaet
- 20FinniganBooked at 75mins
- 27StenevikBooked at 49minsSubstituted forDaleat 88'minutes
- 23HolmgaardSubstituted forVejeat 73'minutes
- 22Galli
- 21KühlSubstituted forPiemonteat 88'minutes
- 7Wheeler
- 10BennisonSubstituted forHolmgaardat 55'minutes
- 25Snoeijs
Substitutes
- 2Veje
- 11Bissell
- 13Hart
- 15Dale
- 18Piemonte
- 28Holmgaard
- 30Wilding
- 47Olesen
- Referee:
- Kirsty Dowle
- Attendance:
- 4,987
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home10
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Everton Women 2.
Post update
Foul by Katie Robinson (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Post update
Courtney Brosnan (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Elisabeth Terland (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Clare Wheeler.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Pauline Bremer (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Katja Snoeijs.
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Clare Wheeler.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Women. Eleanor Dale replaces Elise Stenevik because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton Women. Martina Piemonte replaces Kathrine Kühl.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Elise Stenevik (Everton Women).
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Emma Kullberg replaces Tatiana Pinto.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Maria Thorisdóttir replaces Jorelyn Carabalí.
Post update
Attempt saved. Katie Robinson (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Pauline Bremer with a headed pass.
Post update
Foul by Justine Vanhaevermaet (Everton Women).
Post update
Elisabeth Terland (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Megan Finnigan (Everton Women) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Katja Snoeijs (Everton Women).
Comments
Join the conversation
With an attendance of just under 5,000, surely there would be a better atmosphere in the smaller venue?