After Laia Aleixandri was replaced in the starting line-up before kick-off, the duo were paired together at the heart of defence with Laura Wienroither coming in at right-back.
It was the first time Prior, 20, and Layzell, 21, had formed a partnership at centre-back before playing 90 minutes each in East Sussex as goals from Kerstin Casparij and Vivianne Miedema helped us to three precious points.
Throughout the tough Seagulls assignment, both defenders not only heroically extinguished the hosts’ attacks with a series of tackles and blocks, they were also a calm presence at the back when starting moves of our own.
And Cushing was delighted by their respective displays.
“We were excellent defensively from the whole group,” he declared.
“I can’t praise Naomi Layzell and Gracie Prior enough. When you have two big players like Alex Greenwood, Rebecca Knaak and then also losing Laia in the warm-up.
“To put in two players who are fairly young and inexperienced and haven’t played too much together, to put in that performance was a top day for those two.”
Watch Cushing’s full post-match interview in the video player above!
