Albion Women continued their perfect start to the FAWNL Cup group stage with a win over Leicester City PGA at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
The Baggies dominated proceedings in B71, as two early strikes from Rhianne Oakley and Molly Kehoe created sufficient distance between themselves and the visitors.
Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made two changes to the side that beat Liverpool Feds last weekend. Match-winner Kate Evans was restored to the XI, while Kehoe was brought in for her first league start.
Playing against her former side, Monique Robinson began a first half flurry of chances. With the goal at her mercy, she turned a shot wide from inside the six-yard area.
In front of a buoyant crowd at the Shrine, Albion were in no mood to let-up their goalscoring endeavours. During a series of successful runs down the right wing, Amya Hammond-McLean once again got the better of her defender – before cutting back for Oakley to tap home and open the scoring.
And in as many minutes, the Baggies scored their second. Caymanian midfielder Kehoe nodded in Liv Rabjohn’s inswinging corner to extend their deserved advantage. The home side continued in search of a third, and almost found it when Hannah George got her head onto a cross, but unfortunately saw her attempt go over the bar.
The young Foxes were on the hunt for a way back into the match during the second half, and would’ve found one, had it not been for goalkeeper Charlotte Clarke – she palmed away a stinging effort from skipper Jenna Whinney.
Albion soon got back into their groove. Hammond-McLean found space beyond her opposing full-back, before drilling across the six-yard box for Oakley. The forward’s effort was deflected and scrambled away by Phoebe Baker.
Baker again came to the visitors’ rescue later on in the game. The goalkeeper smothered Oakley’s strike as she raced through on goal, denying Albion a third.
A triumphant win at the Shrine saw the Baggies stay top of Group N. They take on Leafield Athletic in the final group match on Sunday, September 29.
ALBION: Clarke; Reynolds, Green (Sharp 50’), George, Haughey; Evans, Rabjohn (Watkins 50’); Hammond-McLean (Heselden 90’), Kehoe (Warner 62’), Robinson; Oakley (Jhamat 76’).
Unused substitutes: Howard, Janny.
