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Coach had to play as Chelsea in run-up to Albion WSL clash

Injuries have left the WSL squad without enough players to field two teams during the week at Lancing.

So Vidosic helped those not in the XI play the role of Chelsea as his selected side prepared to face the champions in the WSL.

Albion completed their fixtures before the Christmas break with a 3-0 defeat to the champions at Broadfield Stadium.

They were on level terms until late in the first half.

Albion boss Vidosic said: “We all know we are struggling to field a second XI to be able to train an compete.

“That is filled with a lot of girls from the under-19s.

“We have had one of our goalkeepers fill-in in positions.

“We have had our goalkeeper coach fill-in in positions.

“I have had to step in for a couple just to help make numbers.

“We try to make intensity as high as we can and the quality as high as we can.

“And then, when it becomes Chelsea at the weekend, it becomes very hard to replicate.

“They changed up in terms of trying to match-up with us, with their back thee and our back three.

“So they probably thought to go player-to-player to make it a bit more comfortable, to make it a bit easier for them.

“With the ball, we were not that good again.

“Probably again the difference was in speed from what we do in training to when it goes to real life. We didn’t find our rhythm.

“I thought we defended well and limited them to not too many clearcut chances in the first half.”

Star goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was among the absentees after suffering concussion in training.

Keira Walsh hit the post and stand-in Sophie Baggaley made a couple of good saves in the first half before Sandy Baltimore cut inside and sent a sensational finish high into the far top corner.

Kiko Seike drilled an effort narrowly wide of the far post early in the second half.

But an own goal by Caitlin Hayes on 51 minutes, as she headed in when trying to clear a dangerous cross, put the game beyond reach.

Alyssa Thompson tucked away the third for a dominant Chelsea, although Seike shot straight at the keeper when well-placed late on.

Albion: Baggaley, Vanegas, Hayes, Minami, McLauchlan (Rule 67), Noordam, Symonds (Camacho 81), Olislagers, Seike, Haley (Tsunoda 81), Kafaji (Kirby 58).

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