A week on from their first Women's Super League victory, Crystal Palace fell to a one-goal defeat against Brighton in their first top-flight game at Gander Green Lane.

Palace had leapfrogging Arsenal in the table on their minds but victory for the Seagulls saw them draw level on points with league leaders Chelsea. 

Laura Kaminski's side competed well against the established WSL outfit, governing over the better opportunities in the first half albeit lacking quality in the final third. 

While Brighton controlled more of the ball, when Palace enjoyed possession they were efficient in working the ball into dangerous areas, but the lack of a final pass or a potent finish proved costly. 

Eagles keeper Shae Yanez had a moment to forget in the 35th minute. From the outside of the box, Jelena Cankovic launched a delivery towards the back post. Yanez came darting off her line but was outbattled by Nikita Parris. Parris’ show of strength saw the ball spill straight towards a pouncing Bruna Vilamala, who tapped it into a gaping net.

Fran Kirby should have doubled Brighton’s lead with minutes left in the first half. The former Chelsea attacker was threaded through by Pauline Bremer, emerging into the centre of the box - she had to score - but Yanez pulled off a decent save to deny Kirby’s left-footed effort. 

Palace, themselves, had an opportunity to get on the scoresheet before the end of the half. Indiah-Paige Riley put in some good work on the right-hand side. Katie Stengel was in space on the penalty spot, Riley found her, but the American was unable to get a clean strike away. 

As they sought a leveller, Palace controlled the second half and were by far the dominant side. Yet their command did not translate into clear-cut chances as the Eagles failed to develop their attacks. 

Palace pushed and pushed, but it took until the first minute of stoppage time to register just their second shot on target. Blancard sent Guro Bergsvand the wrong way on the edge of the box, she opened her body up and got her long-range effort away. Sophie Baggaley - who had been a spectator for 90 minutes - met the shot brilliantly to tap it over the bar and deny Palace a point. 

In what was a frustrating afternoon for the Eagles, Palace struggled to craft another chance during the five minutes of stoppage time and fell to their third defeat of the season.

After four games in the WSL, Palace sit eighth, with a trip to Liverpool next on the agenda for Laura Kaminski’s Red and Blue Army.

Lineups 

Crystal Palace: Yanez; Green, Everett, Veje, Gibbons (Sharpe 89); Cato (Atkinson 89), Potter, Blanchard; Riley (Larkin 71), Stengel, Gejl (Weerden 80).

Brighton: Baggaley; Thorisdottir (McLauchlan 61), Bergsvand, Carabali; Kirby, Losada, Cankovic (Symonds 39), Olislagers; Vilamala (Seike 61), Parris (Auee 90), Bremer (Agyemang 61).