Over 300 Brighton fans headed to Borehamwood on Saturday to see Albion Women face Arsenal. Did any of them expect much more than a comprehensive win for the Gunners? Probably not, but that’s what being a football supporter all is about, following your team through thick and then and cheering them on come what may.

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More on the fans later, but first the game. Yes we do have to talk about it, though forgive me if I’m a somewhat brief in my descriptions of Arsenal’s five unanswered goals. In many ways they were a mere compliment to other more compelling storylines – plus I want the last match report of the season to leave us all with at least some optimism.

The Match

Arsenal’s first goal came in the 17th minute as a well-worked passing move found Alessia Russo just inside the box and she slotted it past the despairing dive of Sophie Baggaley. The second, just seven minutes later, couldn’t have been more different. Presumably working to the philosophy of playing out from the back (more on that later), Baggaley and Maria Thorisdottir continued to do so despite an incoming high press. This resulted in Thorisdottir passing the ball to Russo who took it round Baggers and slotted it in.

Brighton had chances though, Elisabeth Terland headed an opportunity just wide as well as seeing a deflected effort cannon off the crossbar when it was still 1-0. Truthfully though we lacked any real cutting edge, the decisiveness to start reeling the Gunners in.

Normally at half time, I’ve said there was optimism that we could go and get a result. For the first time in a long time, there really wasn’t. It felt like Arsenal’s world and we were just living in it. That being said though, the Albion were giving it their all, the game was exciting, and the fans were in good spirits despite the scoreline – so in a weird way – all was well.

On 56 minutes another failed attempt to pass out from the back ended up with Jorelyn Carabali wiping out Russo for an Arsenal penalty. As soon as Baggers gave the ball away it was panic stations and Carabali just mistimed her challenge unfortunately. Kim Little stepped up to take it, calmly sent the keeper the wrong way, and clattered it off the post and away. A brief reprieve.

Arsenal brought on reinforcements, most notably in the form of Vivianne Miedema making her final appearance for the club before she leaves on a free transfer. Would the stars align? Of course the bloody would. Just two minutes after the substitutions Beth Mead played a lovely through-ball for Miedema to latch on to. With trademark aplomb she tucked it first time into the bottom corner of the net. Every single fan in the stadium rose to applaud her, and I mean every.

The Gunners added a fourth when some absolutely calamitous defending from a corner ended up with an own goal being awarded (67′), probably unfairly, to Carabali who was just doing her best to clear it off the line. A shame really as we’d been so much better from set pieces of late. The fifth was classic Brighton this season, dispossessed, out of position and lack of ability to recover, all combined to let Frida Leonhardsen Maanum have a free run through on goal, where she could take her time and stroke it past Baggers to put a cherry on the cake (88′).

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Strange though it may seem, it didn’t feel like a 5-0 defeat. There were times when Albion had the Gunners on the ropes and another day, another deflection and it could have been 1-1 not 2-0 after 24 minutes. Feels like there’s been a lot of coulda, woulda, shoulda, this season though and ultimately, you make your own luck. We tried – which is all as a fan you can ask of the players, it just always felt like it would be Arsenal’s day.

The Experience

I travelled up on one of two coaches direct from the Amex, which the club were nice enough to put on for us at a subsidised cost. They were spacious, comfortable, well-maintained, and I would like to thank both the drivers and the stewards for their assistance on the day. I believe there were around 75-80 of us spread over the two vehicles which, truth be told, would be a good crowd at the majority of our away games on its own. Based on that number though, around 200+ more chose to make their own way, which is phenomenal when you think about it. I don’t know for certain, but I would suspect if the figure of over 300 Albion fans is officially confirmed, that may represent a new record away attendance.

There was a bit of confusion upon entry into the ground as the area that had been marked for away fans on our stadium plan was already full of home supporters. We eventually made use of a seated block in the West stand right on the end, much like away fans do at the Broadfield in the East, but it wasn’t immediately clear where we could or couldn’t sit/stand. To be honest all that was required was a member of ground staff to be present where we entered just giving some directions or letting us know our options rather than us having to play detective.

Once we got settled, I thought our fans were in fine form throughout – despite what was happening on the pitch. Some of the veteran members of the away support got us going with some songs and chants, and I thank them for starting us off so that we could find our collective voice as the match wore on. It does show that when groups of dedicated fans are allowed to sit or congregate together that we can get the atmosphere going – wherever that may be.

Massive thank you to everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion that was involved in making the trip such a success. We need to use this as a platform to build from though and I would strongly suggest that providing coach travel for our London-based away fixtures be looked at as an option for next season. To paraphrase a famous movie quote ‘If you can get us there, we will come.’

All three hosts of the SheGulls Podcast were in attendance and we were greeted at the stadium by long-time contributor and question-setter extraordinaire BiSeagull (second left) who had designed a ‘SheGulls on Tour’ flag that could be displayed on the hoardings at the ground. Honestly, to think that anyone cared enough about SheGulls, in all our various guises, to do such a remarkable thing is as humbling as it amazing. Thank you.

Notes

• I can only go from what it looked like at the end, but it seems like Katie Robinson has played her last game for the club. This season was tough for her and in many ways I think a change of scenery might help both her and, down the line, the club too. Go well Robbo, best of luck with whatever comes next!
• The fans are getting very frustrated with this tactic of passing the ball out from the back. It cost us one goal on Saturday and it nearly cost us another had Little put the penalty away. My issues are twofold. One I don’t think we have the ball-playing goalkeeper or defenders to implement that style, and two, we don’t tangibly benefit. How many times this season has a goal or goal-scoring chance been directly generated from developing possession from back to front? I’m struggling to think of one, but even if we argue there’s been 2 or 3, that still means the methodology is costing us more goals than it’s generating.
• It was appropriate that Miedema scored, and as I wrote in the report, she received a standing ovation from our supporters as well as her own. What a truly generational talent she has been, and will likely continue to be.
• Honestly, to all the travelling fans, thank you! You turned out in droves and it just shows the level of support we can achieve when we feel galvanised and valued. I hope the club use this experience to grow and develop the fanbase even further as a potential new stadium will not be filled by the die-hard couple of thousand who turn up week in week out at the Broadfield. The work starts now.

Episode 12 – yes I can’t believe it’s still going either – of the SheGulls Podcast will be recorded Monday for a Tuesday release so keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for that! We’ll be discussing the game, the season as a whole, and letting you know more about our offseason schedule.

Thank you to everyone who reads these match reports. I’ll be honest after a heavy defeat they’re sometimes more challenging to write than I’d like, but I also use them as a form of therapy – so swings and roundabouts. Hopefully they’re enjoyable and if so I’ll continue them next year too!

Signing off from the 23/24 season – Duncan x