Fran Kirby wins it for Brighton after West Ham battle back from two goals behind

PA Sport staff

Press Association

Former Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby was Brighton’s matchwinner (PA)

Fran Kirby fired a late winner as Brighton bounced back to winning ways with a 3-2 victory against West Ham at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton, who lost 5-0 at home to Arsenal last week, let slip a two-goal lead against the Hammers before England midfielder Kirby struck in the closing stages.

Dario Vidosic’s side appeared to be cruising when Kiko Seike put them 2-0 up after an hour following Rachel McLauchlan’s first-half opener.

West Ham hit back to level through two superb strikes in the space of five minutes from captain Katrina Gorry but the Londoners went down to their fifth Women’s Super League defeat of the season.

Kirby led from the front for Brighton and after blazing off target helped create the opening goal in the 29th minute.

The England midfielder’s inch-perfect flick-on sprang McLauchlan clear and the Scotland defender curled a composed finish into the bottom corner.

Brighton made a sluggish start to the second half and West Ham should have equalised when Seraina Piubel fired wildly over the crossbar from Riko Ueki’s knockdown.

The visitors were made to pay soon after as Brighton doubled their lead on the hour-mark.

McLauchlan was this time the provider, laying the ball off inside the box for Seike to steer home inside the far post.

West Ham reduced the deficit four minutes later minutes later. Gorry, whose fierce shot moments earlier had hit the crossbar, lashed home another thumping 20-yard drive for her first Hammers goal.

The Australia midfielder had clearly found her range and another sweet strike five minutes later, after she had won the ball back on the edge of the area, hauled the Hammers level.

A shoulder injury then forced Gorry out of the action – she was replaced by Dagny Brynjarsdottir – and Brighton regrouped to regain the lead with eight minutes left.

Kirby, teed up by Seike inside the box, drilled home an angled shot off the inside of a post and Brighton saw out their fifth league win of the season to stay third in the table.