YEOVIL TOWN 1

BRIGHTON 1

A SECOND-HALF Ellie Mason goal secured an important 1-1 draw for Yeovil Town Ladies against relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion at the Clayson Stadium in the Women’s Super League.

Manager Lee Burch made two changes from the defeat at Arsenal with Olivia Fergusson replacing Erin Bloomfield and Emily Donovan coming into the side for Emily Syme.

The Glovers started on the back foot and looked nervous but did have a glorious chance to open the scoring after just three minutes.

Hannah Short’s deep free-kick found Mason whose header flashed just wide of the post.

Truthfully, the Glovers had goalkeeper Megan Walsh to thank for keeping them in the game and on six minutes Aileen Whelan’s cross found Kate Natkiel only for Walsh to excel in parrying the effort away.

It took until the 28th minute for Brighton to take the lead when Victoria Williams headed home from a corner after the hosts’ defence failed to clear.

Yeovil almost replied immediately through Donovan, whose acrobatic overhead kick tested Sophie Harris in the Brighton goal.

Ellie Brazil then went close to doubling Brighton’s lead but Walsh was equal to the effort and the Glovers went into the break just one goal down.

The second half was played with a lot more urgency from the home side although former Glover Kayleigh Green looked lively early on and again Walsh was on hand to clear.

Yeovil then asserted their dominance and started to take control of the match. Rachel McLauchlan, Donovan and Megan Alexander all went close for the home side but Brighton’s defence stood strong.

The Glovers’ centre-halves then combined to get the well-deserved equaliser. Short’s free-kick was hammered home from close range by player of the match Mason and the Clayson Stadium erupted.

With just seven minutes to go, Yeovil almost completed the turnaround as Short and Mason’s set-piece prowess almost told again but Mason’s header was just wide of the post.

The visitors then had a chance to snatch the three points at the death when Ini Umotong broke free and hit the post but the Glovers held on for a well-deserved point.

Next, Yeovil travel to Everton on Sunday, March 31 in what is another crucial match in the battle to avoid the drop.

Yeovil: Walsh, Alexander, Short, Fergusson, Horwood, Heatherson, Mason, Donovan, Buxton (Cousins 84), Evans (Syme 72), McLauchlan. Subs not used: Howard, Gaylor, Fischer, Bloomfield, Taylor

Brighton: Harris, Williams, Whelan (Umotong 72), Buet, Gibbons, Natkiel, Peplow (Simpkins 22), Connolly, Whelan, Brazil, Green. Subs not used: Hourihan, Roe, Barton, Umotong, Nilden, Le Tissier.

Attendance: 408

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