Albion Women were worthy winners against Peterborough United in their latest FAWNL Northern Premier encounter on Sunday afternoon.
Charlie Fripp’s side opened the scoring through Phoebe Hollin, but were almost immediately pegged back by Ellie May’s effort for the visitors.
But the Baggies’ quality told, as Riya Mannu and Rhianne Rush put the game to bed, before the Posh were reduced to 10 players midway through the second period.
They now turn their attention to next Sunday, as they face an FAWNL Cup trip to Lye Town.
The hosts started much the better of the two sides. Taylor Reynolds broke down the right-hand side, but saw her effort palmed away by Neive Corry before Hollin could’ve opened the scoring after a slick move at the far post.
Mannu was next to try her luck; she raced beyond the Posh defence and forced a low save from the goalkeeper. She had no better fortune with her headed shot, which went wide and over.
On her maiden Albion start, Hollin was on hand to grab the home side a deserved opener. The forward struck at the back stick after an inviting delivery into the box, sparking jubilation from Fripp’s side.
But it was short-lived as far as the first half was concerned, as May equalised for the visitors just eight minutes from time - with Collyer’s strike on the halfway mark chalked off for offside.
It’s fair to say the Baggies came out for the second period rejuvenated, though, as Mannu got the second-half scoring underway. She slalomed her way behind the Posh defence and buried an effort into the bottom corner to regain the hosts’ advantage.
And it wasn’t too long until they had a second; shouts for a penalty on Mannu hardly had time to be waved away before Rush stepped up to slam away Albion’s third just seven minutes from the resumption of the second period.
With the hosts in control, they continued in their pursuit of further goals. Hannah George saw a free-kick parried away by Corry, while Naomi Powell’s attempt met the same fate.
It went from bad to worse for the visitors when they had a player sent off. Anna Pitt was dismissed after an altercation involving both teams in the middle of the park.
Midfielder Powell almost saw a fourth go in for the Baggies, as her high-pressing won the ball high up the field, but she missed the target with only the goalkeeper to beat - but she won’t have minded - as Fripp’s side came away with all three points.
Albion: Clarke; Reynolds, Creaney (Green 85’), George, Haughey; Powell, Rush (Rabjohn 85’), Mannu (Robinson 76’); Oakley, Collyer, Hollin (Jones 65’).
Substitutes: Grimshaw, Day, Sharp.
