Albion Women exited the FA Cup at the third-round stage as they were beaten by WSL Championship side Durham at the Valley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Head coach Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made two changes to the team that was narrowly beaten by league leaders Newcastle United in their last game.
Goalkeeper Lucy Jones was restored to the XI in place of Anna Miller, while Lucy Newell made her return from England under-19’s duty to replace captain Hannah George who missed out – Ashlee Brown took the armband.
Albion started the brighter of the two teams as Fran Orthodoxou looked to open the scoring from range. Her powerful effort left goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon needing to produce a sprawling save to claw the ball out of the top corner to keep the scores level.
After a tight opening period, Durham looked to respond as Saoirse Noonan hit a free-kick from distance which stung the gloves of Jones who got down well to tip the ball wide.
It was the visitors who would take the lead. Sarah Wilson flicked a corner towards the back post to open the scoring.
Durham’s positivity continued after the half-time break as Beth Hepple’s strike struck the post after Jones got a fingertip to the ball.
The Baggies almost found an equaliser when Abi Loydon broke in behind the second-tier side’s defence, she flashed a ball across the goalmouth but McAloon came out to palm the ball away with Simran Jhamat looking to tap home.
Durham responded just minutes later though, this time Lily Crosthwaite weaved into the penalty area leaving Eleanor Ryan-Doyle alone in the box to fire home for their second.
The visitors found a third shortly after as Noonan played through Crosthwaite who had time and space to pick a finish.
The Durham attacking spree continued as they added a fourth through Noonan and a fifth just before the full-time whistle thanks to substitute Becky Salicki.
Albion Women are back in FA Women’s National League North action next weekend when they travel to Mickleover Sports Park to face Derby County.
Albion: Jones, Brown (Crackle 87), Newell, Green, Rabjohn, Orthodoxou, Loydon, Warner, McGowan (Straker 79), Jhamat, Mahmood (Weston 64).
Substitutes: Miller.