Albion Women enjoy their title - but the work goes on

But Albion Women had to wait to celebrate properly after securing the Premier League southern division crown.

Taylor scored twice as the Seagulls won 2-1 at Tottenham to clinch the division.

They now await a promotion play-off at Adams Park, Wycombe, on Sunday, May 29, in their quest for Super League football.

Taylor, who has been converted from defence to centre forward, said she and the team have experienced a lot this season.

It helped them grab a winner in the last 15 minutes after Tottenham had drawn level at 1-1 and put the title at risk.

She told The Argus: “We know in most games we start to dominate in the final 15 or 20 minutes.

“We just carried on as we were. We have been through a lot this season.

“Coventry at home when we nicked a late winner. Coventry away when we got a late equaliser.

“We know we have got it in us as a team to work together to get the result we need.

“We have worked together really hard to get where we are.

“It was quite tough. Spurs are quite a good side anyway and they made it difficult for us.

“The pitch wasn’t the best but we still tried to play the way we normally play and eventually we got there.”

The super finish which secured the title was reward for hard work put in with manager James Marrs.

She said: “James was telling me throughout the whole game to take my time with my finishing so I just did that and it went into the top corner, which wasn’t too bad.

“The season has been very different but I have come a very long way. I’m really grateful for the coaching and it all goes down to the physios as well.

“Throughout the season we have had a few people who have had knocks and injuries. We are grateful for everything we get.”

Part of Marrs’ thinking in moving Taylor, pictured above, up front was that she would defend from the front.

He said: “Amy has come a long way on and off the field. She has uprooted and moved from Kent to Brighton to play and her work rate and desire in training and games is second to none.

“I had an inkling she might be able to score us some goals. She has loved every minute of it and that has shown in her performances.”

Albion celebrated for a while on the pitch – but the players were back at their day jobs on Monday so a real party has had to wait.

Taylor said: “Even after we won the title, we trained again on Tuesday and kept going as we normally would. But on Friday we decided tol get everyone together and chill out.”

Charlotte Gurr finished as Albion’s top scorer in league games only with 14 goals. Taylor added 11 and Deanna Cooper an impressive nine from central defence.

Gurr, Taylor, Vicky Ashton-Jones and Kirsty Barton played in all 22 games while Kate Natkiel and Cooper missed just one match apiece.

Why a draw might have been the key result...

Albion Women won 17 of their 22 league games en route to the title.

But manager James Marrs has highlighted one of three draws as a turning point of the season.

The Seagulls suffered two successive defeats before drawing 2-2 with the Hammers in November. They took 25 points from their subsequent nine games, starting with a 2-1 win at leaders Cardiff City.

Marrs said: “We had a bit of a dip in results, although the performances were still okay. After the 2-2 draw with West Ham we had a meeting.

“The girls have kicked on from then and everybody stepped it up. We have been consistent from that point onwards.

“We won 17 games and you could say all 17 were technically turning points. But that 2-2 draw was the turning point for me and really kick-started things.”

He added: “It’s a great achievement by the players and all the staff to be champions. All you can ask for is progress each season. We’ve got more points than last season and we have won the league.”