Albion Women saw their seven-game winning run end at the hands of FAWNL Northern Premier table-toppers Burnley at the Alexander Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Baggies were beaten narrowly thanks to Millie Ravening's penalty for the visitors after just 10 minutes.
Manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made wholesale changes from the side that beat Boldmere St Michaels in the Birmingham County FA Challenge Cup last weekend. The in-form Phoebe Warner was handed a start as a result of her goalscoring streak, while Monique Robinson and Ellie May were reunited as a strike partnership.
The visitors had plenty of early possession and took an early advantage after Taylor Reynolds was adjudged to have fouled captain Yana Daniëls inside the 18-yard box. Midfielder Ravening dispatched the spot-kick to hand the Clarets the lead.
Despite their early setback, Albion looked to feel their way back into the encounter. May saw an effort saved by goalkeeper Kirstie Levell from a narrow angle and captain Hannah George couldn’t convert the rebound.
The second half came with a similar pattern. The visitors enjoyed much of the possession, with Albion aiming to create on the break. Substitute Marli Rhodes looked to do just that as she spun away from her defender and took aim from 25-yards, but the effort skimmed just wide.
With the minutes ticking away, Reynolds found space down the right side before whipping a delightful ball into the box. Rhodes was closest to it, but a smart clearance from Emma Sidall denied a certain Baggies goal.
Fran Orthodoxou forced Levell into a late save after a well-worked corner routine, but that was to be the final attempt on the Clarets’ goal as Albion suffered their first defeat at the Alexander Stadium.
Hodgetts-Still's outfit are next in action on Sunday, October 26, when they travel to Solihull Moors for the first-round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
Albion: Clarke; Reynolds, Green; George, Haughey; Evans (Watkins 64’), Orthodoxou, Warner, Oakley; Robinson (Creaney 86’), May (Rhodes 64’).
Substitutes: Johnson, Jhamat, Rabjohn, Pullen.
