Votíková denies Brighton in latest pre-season friendly

The build-up to the start of the new Women’s Super League season continued for us with a goalless pre-season friendly draw with Brighton & Hove Albion Women on Sunday evening.

Both sides hit the woodwork over the course of the game at the Seagulls’ Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing, Barbora Votíková superbly tipping Elisabeth Terland’s shot onto the crossbar in arguably the best chance of the game 15 minutes from time, but nobody was able to find the breakthrough.

We enjoyed more of the possession in the first half, controlling the game for the most part and fashioning more attempts at goal.

Drew Spence, playing her first game since the World Cup along with Jamaica team-mate Becky Spencer, set up Grace Clinton for a low shot just over a quarter-of-an-hour in, but it was stopped comfortably by Katie Startup, who then saved from Jess Naz 10 minutes later.

Our best chance arrived three minutes before the interval with Naz collecting Olga Ahtinen’s pass and fizzing a shot over Startup, only to see the ball crash off the crossbar.

It was Brighton’s turn to hit the frame of the goal just after the restart, their summer signing Pauline Bremer sending a header against the upright, while half-time substitute Kit Graham saw her shot blocked shortly afterwards as we continued to look for an opener.

The hosts began to see more of the ball around the hour mark and tested our defensive resolve but as they pushed forward, we almost caught them on the break when we won the ball back in our own half and Graham stormed forward, feeding Rosella Ayane, only for her low strike to zip wide.

Almost immediately, Brighton went so close to breaking the deadlock when Terland shot powerfully from range, but a superb fingertip save from Votíková diverted the ball onto the bar. Votíková again pulled off a good stop a few minutes from time as Brighton threatened from a corner, ensuring the scores remained level.