ELLIE BRAZIL said Albion made a statement after hammering West Ham 4-0 to close their season on a high.

The Seagulls led 2-0 at half-time against the losing FA Cup finalists thanks to goals from Kayleigh Green and Megan Connolly.

Substitute Amanda Nilden put the game beyond reach with the 78th-minute third and Brazil added a stoppage-time fourth as Albion ended their FA Women’s Super League season in style at Rush Green.

It was Albion’s biggest league win of the season as they secured a ninth place finish in their first campaign in the WSL.

Late scorer Brazil said: “We came here fully fresh, knowing we had to give it our all to finish the season on a high.

“We wanted to show people exactly what we’re made of.

“We’ve worked so hard over the past nine months and we wanted to make a statement.

“We have always been the team that no-one has expected much from this season.

“We hadn’t really made a statement so far this year, so I’m so happy we did here.

“It shows that next year we’re going to come in and really fight.

“We’re not a team to look down on. Everything we do makes us stronger and we’re aiming high for next season.

“We all look at Arsenal and their achievements as an example. We will try our hardest and strive to be like them next season.”

Defeat consigned the Hammers to a seventh-place finish.

Albion dominated from early on and captain Danielle Buet was off target before striker Ini Umotong turned her marker in the box and saw her curling effort pushed wide by West Ham goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

West Ham struggled to find their feet and gifted Albion the lead when a mix-up at the back on 22 minutes allowed Umotong to round Moorhouse outside the box before squaring to Aileen Whelan to feed Green, who struck home from six yards.

The hosts’ Leanne Kiernan fizzed a shot wide but they went 2-0 down after 39 minutes when Connolly’s long-range effort squeezed in at the far post.

West Ham pushed forward after the break but almost conceded a third when Whelan blasted a shot over the bar from close range after a swift counter attack.

The Seagulls sealed victory after 78 minutes when Green neatly played in Nilden to slot past Moorhouse into the far corner.

Brazil added Brighton’s fourth in injury time from another counter-attack after her effort came off a post to leave Moorhouse with no chance.

West Ham’s captain-for-the-day Lucienne Reinhardt played her final professional game.

Albion (4-4-2): Hourihan, Roe, Williams, Buet, Gibbons, Whelan (Natkiel 81), Peplow (Simpkins 81), Green, Connolly, Umotong (Nilden 60), Brazil. Used subs: Hartley, Whelan, Rafferty, Barton.

Referee: Stacey Pearson Attendance: 1,412.

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