Whelan bows out on a high after final match goal against Everton
Aileen Whelan ended her Brighton & Hove Albion career on a high with the second half equaliser in her side’s 1-1 draw with Everton.
Whelan announced yesterday that the clash would be her last game with the Seagulls, and she left her mark with a shot into the bottom left corner at the People’s Pension Stadium.
The result meant Brighton finished seventh and Everton 10th in the table on the last day of the Barclays FA WSL season.
Both teams started strong, and Brighton had the first chance on the 10 minute mark with Victoria Williams reaching for a cross on the edge of the six yard box but was unable to connect.
Maisie Symonds had a chance with a low shot across the face of the goal after a challenge from Megan Finnigan saw the first booking of the game for the Everton player.
Everton responded quickly as a cross from Simone Magill led to a downward header from Anna Anvagård as keeper Megan Walsh scrambled for the save.
Knocking on the door of the break, Everton began to toy with the Brighton defence.
And after some careful passing around the box, Nathalie Bjorn finally found the net with a brilliant strike into the top right corner in the closing stages.
It seemed that luck was on Everton’s side as referee Louise Saunders controversially let a challenge on Emma Koivisto from Leonie Maier go unnoticed and blew her whistle for half-time.
There was instant impact in the second half from the
Brighton replacements as a long shot from Koivisto hit the crossbar and bounced off for the rebound.
And veteran Whelan was there for the return as she fired a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner to level.
Brighton carried their newfoundpassing authority throughout the second half with Inessa Kaagman almost
producing a perfect header to go ahead and Symonds and Whelan carrying further chances.
Brighton & Hove Albion(4-4-1-1): Megan Walsh; Emma Koivisto; Felicity Gibbons; Danique Kerkdijk; Maya Le Tissier; Megan Connolly; Lee Geum-Min; Inessa Kaagman; Victoria Williams; Julia Zigiotti Olme; Maisie Symonds
Substitutes: Aileen Whelan for Connolly 45’, Emma Kullberg for Gibbons 45’, Kayleigh Green for Kaagman 66’; Danielle Carter for Geum-Min 83’
Substitutes not used: Danielle Bowman; Libby Bance; Emily Simpkins; Katie Startup . Goals: Whelan 52’
Everton (5-4-1): Courtney Brosnan; Nathalie Björn; Gabrielle George; Toni Duggan;
Simone Magill; Lucy Graham; Anna Anvegård; Megan Finnigan; Leonie Maier; Hanna Bennison; Poppy Pattinson
Substitutes: Danielle Turner for Magill 45’; Claire Emslie for Anvegard 63’; Grace Clinton for Pattinson 78. Goals: Björn 45+1’
Bookings: Megan Finnigan 17’; Danielle Turner 69’
Referee: Louise Saunders