Brighton extend unbeaten run with draw at Coventry

FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division leaders Brighton & Hove Albion salvaged a 2-2 draw with Coventry United thanks to Sophie Perry’s injury-time free-kick.

Albion arrived at The Oval protecting an 11-game unbeaten streak, having won their last 10, but looked like heading for defeat as Jade Brook added to Amber Hughes’s early opener to see hosts Coventry lead 2-1 with 90 minutes on the clock.

But Perry had other ideas and she fired home a free-kick in added time, adding to Kate Natkiel’s first-half equaliser, to see the Albion remain unbeaten for a 12th straight game, and move nine points clear at the top of the table.

Brighton were dealt an early blow when a poor back pass allowed Hughes to slot the ball past goalkeeper Faye Baker and give Coventry the lead after five minutes.

But the league leaders were level on 27 minutes as Natkiel volleyed home a cross.

Charlotte Gurr had a fantastic opportunity to give Brighton the lead on the hour mark after Lucy Somes had picked her out, but Albion’s top goalscorer blazed over the bar from close range.

And this miss came back to haunt the visitors as Brook restored Coventry’s lead with a long-range effort.

But Perry climbed off the substitute’s bench with 20 minutes left to make herself a hero, although it is the first time Brighton have dropped points in the league since 8 November.

The other game in the Southern Division between Plymouth Argyle and Forest Green Rovers was called off, but there were two more games in the Northern Division where Preston North End extended their lead at the summit with a 1-0 win at Nuneaton Town.

And once again there was a late goal as former Liverpool midfielder Katie Brusell fired home from the edge of the area in added time to hand Preston all three points, stretching their lead at the top of the table to six points.

In the other Southern league game Huddersfield Town survived a late Newcastle United fight back to claim a 4-3 victory.

Hosts Huddersfield looked set for a comfortable win as an Emily Heckler hat-trick and a Katie Nutter strike just before the hour mark saw them leading 4-0.

But Newcastle scored three goals in the last half hour to send nerves jangling, but the hosts held on for the three points.