Christen Press and Tobin Heath came off the bench to make their Manchester United debuts as Casey Stoney’s side defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 at The Leigh Sports Village this afternoon.
The visitors went into the match on the back of an impressive display against Manchester City last time out where they held The Cityzens to a 0-0 draw at The Academy Stadium. They will have fancied themselves for another upset but it wasn’t to be as United’s class shone through.
Hope Powell’s side didn’t get off to the best starts against The Red Devils. Ella Toone was played down the channel and tried to find Alessia Russo with a chipped cross to the back post, however, the striker was barged in the back by Maya Le Tissier and the referee pointed to the spot. It was Toone who stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to give United a ninth-minute lead.
Toone then came close to grabbing her’s and United’s second. A neat pass inside from Kirsty Hanson found United’s number seven who rolled her marker and took aim from the edge of the area but her left-footed effort narrowly drifted over Megan Walsh’s goal.
Brighton & Hove Albion could, and probably should, have equalised late in the half when a nod down from a deep free-kick found Megan Connolly in the six-yard box but the Republic of Ireland international blazed her shot over the crossbar. It was a pretty even opening 45 minutes overall, although the hosts my have just edged it as the scoreline reflected.
United looked the most likely to score after the interval with Hanson getting a lot of joy cutting in from the right onto her left foot but her first effort was pushed away by Walsh and her second was fired over.
The home side did have their second goal 21 minutes before time. Some good pressing by Hanson allowed Russo to latch onto a loose ball and as she drove at goal she kept a cool head to slot her shot in at the near post.
American duo Heath and Press were then given their United debuts. The latter was handed a great opportunity to score in her maiden United appearance following a tidy pass from Hayley Ladd but she could only find the inside of the post.
As the game slipped into stoppage time, the hosts did find their third goal to put the game to bed. Some neat footwork from Heath on the right meant she was able to pick out Jane Ross in the middle. The Scottish striker bravely challenged Walsh in the air and was able to force the ball in.
Despite the first half being a close affair, United were much-improved in the second half and were able to break down an organised Brighton & Hove Albion defence that many will struggle to get goals against this season. As for manager Stoney, you’d imagine she will be delighted with the depth she now has in the squad when, despite having so many players out, she can still call on her substitutes to combine and kill a game off.
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