County Londonderry 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 2
By Paul Alexander
Brighton & Hove Albion got their 2024 SuperCupNI campaign off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory against County Londonderry at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Monday afternoon.
It was Brighton who threatened after just six minutes when a free-kick by Zebedee Lawson went wide of the right post.
County Londonderry responded soon after through Yoann Prigent. His chipped attempt from an acute angle was tipped over the crossbar by Callum Furber in the Brighton goal.
Last year’s Premier champions continued their search for an opener with a quarter of an hour played. Emmett Morrison tried to find the bottom-right corner but his shot was palmed away by Furber.
Although Albion would be the side to take the lead minutes before the break. Lawson’s shot, from a tight angle on the right, was parried by Londonderry goalkeeper Odhran Patton before Cristiano Anah guided the rebound over the line.
Londonderry had chances as they pushed for an equaliser at the beginning of the second half. The first came when Morrison supplied Zach McAuley but his header was saved by Furber.
As the county side maintained their pressure on the Brighton defence, Zhai Glackin nodded towards goal follwing a corner-kick but his header was denied.
Glackin then tried to set up a leveller seven minutes later. His free-kick would eventually drop for Matthew Burns however his shot from inside the peantly area went wide of the right post.
The Seagulls doubled their advantage at the other end seconds later when the ball fell kindly for Jackson Morby. He sweeped the ball into the net from the edge of the 6-yard box to give his side space to breathe.
However, that breathing space would be reduced with two minutes to go when Londonderry’s Bunrs found the net after Aidan Graham’s ball in from the left.
There was just time for one last opportunity for County Londonderry in stoppage time. Callum Leacock’s throw-in found its way to Brody Lamont but he couldn’t stretch far enough to make the required connection.
County Londonderry: Patton, Glackin, McAuley (Lamont, 69), Leacock, KC (Campbell, 69), Burns, Downey (L. McCourt, 57), Morrison, Prigent (G. McCourt, 50), Hawe (Graham, 57), Curran (Hawe, 50)
Subs not used: Marcus Vary
Brighton & Hove Albion: Furber, Anah, Ranson, Widdop, Morby, Newham Reeve, Brennan (Smith, 69), Pugh, Lawson (Purcell, 63), Parsons (Long, 54), Boddy (Oppong, 63)
Subs not used: Akapo, Augustin, Austin