Albion were beaten 2-0 away by Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division on Sunday.
A goal in each half from Natasha Fenton and Saffron Jordan was enough to see Louis Sowe’s side suffer defeat in Lancashire.
Yet it was the Baggies who came storming out of the blocks early on, striking the crossbar through an 18-yard thunderbolt from Lauren Price.
Dale then latched onto a clever through pass from Price, but could only fire wide of the near-post as Albion continued to look dangerous on the counter attack.
Albion were caught cold in the 24th minute when Fenton’s curling free-kick from 35-yards evaded everybody to sneak past Gardner giving Rovers the lead against the run of play.
Leanne Mitchell came within an inch of an equaliser when a low drive from an acute angle clipped the outside of the post before Lauren Price hammered the rebound over.
The Baggies kept up the pressure after the break and twice Mitchell prodded the ball past Rovers goalkeeper Hill, but on both occasions the hosts managed to clear to safety.
With just ten minutes remaining Jordan ended Albion’s hopes of a point after spinning inside the box to slot past Gardner.
Albion: Gardner, H.Price, Hull (c), Fellows, Smith, Finch, Kikomeko (James 79), Vincze (Burton 26), Dale, L.Price, Mitchell. (Bacciochi 83).
Subs: Finn, Buckmire.