Maisie Symonds thanked her family after a “surreal” finale at the Amex.

The 18-year-old substitute curled home a free-kick as Albion beat Leicester 1-0.

The injury-time goal sparked euphoric scenes amid Symonds’ colleagues and fans in an attendance of 3,566.

It also sent the Seagulls third in FA WSL.

Symonds waved to family in the East Stand after her first WSL goal.

She said: “My dad, my brothers, my mum, my stepdad – everyone was here, basically. My whole family.

“They have been coming to every game and some games I don’t even get on.

“My dad and my sister came up to Everton last week so to be able to score and give them something to cheer about was massive.

“I just wanted to look over to them.”

Symonds pulled rank over last season’s top scorer Inessa Kaagman as they stood over the free-kick.

She said: “From that angle, sometimes the goalkeeper is not sure whether you are going to cross it or shoot.

“When we won the free-kick I said, ‘I want to take it, Ness’.

“I think Ness was looking for more of an outswinger as a left-footer.

“I said I was going to shoot.

“I think from that range it is definitely on to shoot and I backed myself and luckily it went in.

“Otherwise I think I would have been in a bit of trouble with Ness!”

She added: “It’s just surreal at the minute. I can’t really believe it has happened.”