Report: Palace edged out on the south coast

A five-minute double saw the hosts claim maximum points at Broadfield Stadium.

Summary:

• Napier, Hopcroft and O'Brien all return to the side, after being benched against Chelsea
• 17: O'Brien is hauled to the ground in the penalty area, but the referee waves play on
• 29: Tvedten sees her attempt saved by Peyraud-Magnin
• 34: GOAL - Blanchard picks out the top corner superbly from range
• 45: Mpome's effort from range is off target
• HT: Brighton 0-1 Palace
• 59: Goal - Hayes heads in from close-range
• 61: England's chipped effort is just wide
• 63: Goal - Peskett makes it two with a snapshot inside the box
• 76: Garcia almost makes it three, but Peyraud-Magnin is equal to it
• 82: Lloyd-Smith's effort is deflected wide for a corner
• 90+2: Ladd heads away Vanegas's free-kick
• FT: Brighton 2-1 Palace

A five-minute double salvo from Caitlin Hayes and Sophie Peskett saw the Seagulls beat Palace 2-1 at Broadfield Stadium.

The hosts dominated the first-half, having eight shots, five corners and the lion's share of possession.

It was Palace that took the lead though, with Annabel Blanchard bagging her first WSL goal of the season.

The goal came in some style too, with Hayley Ladd intercepting goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie's miskick.

The Wales international found Blanchard, who took one touch and rifled the ball into the top left corner from at least 20 yards out.

It was Palace's first shot of the game, and Jo Potter's side had the lead going into the second 45.

The hosts would rally in the second-half though - equalising 14 minutes after the restart through a Caitlin Hayes header.

Bethany England then came minutes away from restoring our lead, but her chipped effort from outside the box fell just inches away from the bottom corner.

Brighton would then take the lead just four minutes later, with Sophie Peskett tapping in a rebounded Emilie Joramo shot from outside the box.

In just five minutes the Seagulls had turned the game on it's head, and Palace were chasing an equaliser.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith came on as a substitute and almost restored parity on 82 minutes, but the retreating Brighton defender managed to deflect her goalbound effort away for a corner.

That final chance just wouldn't come though, and Palace suffered another narrow defeat in the WSL.

We remain in 13th place, with the visit of 14th place Charlton Athletic up next for Potter's side.

That game kicks off at 14:00 GMT on Sunday, 8th November - click the button below to get your tickets!

Brighton: Nnadozie (GK), Vanegas, Mpome (Auee,78), Symonds, Kirby (Warren, 90+5), Joramo, Hayes, Olislagers, Tvedten (Rayner, 90+1), Garcia, Peskett (Murphy, 90+1)

Subs not used: Loeck (GK), Heeps (GK), George, Gay

Palace: Peyraud-Magnin (GK), Napier, Everett, England, Ladd, Blanchard, Larkin (Lloyd-Smith, 65), Goldie (Swaby, 84), Hopcroft (Enge, 65), O'Brien, Bartrip

Subs not used: Yañez (GK), Howat, Weerden, Cosme, Nolan