Albion Women produced penalty shootout heroics to beat Leeds United in the FA WNL Cup at the Alexander Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors went ahead midway through the first half, but the Baggies equalised through Molly Kehoe, before a 4-2 triumph on penalties secured their place in the quarter-finals.
Manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made five changes to the side that managed a league draw with Middlesbrough last weekend. Lavarna Johnson, Ruby Heselden, Olivia Rabjohn, Mia Sorrentino and Simran Jhamat were all handed starts for the cup clash.
After a tightly contested first half hour, the Baggies found themselves trailing by a goal. A visiting corner flew all the way over to the far post, leaving Alice Hughes to bundle over the goal line.
Albion were much improved at the beginning of the second half and almost got a goal back. Ellie May raced beyond the Leeds back-line, only to see her powerful effort fall the wrong side of the upright.
Substitute Monique Robinson had a great chance to level the scoring as she placed her header just over, leaving it to fellow attacking introduction Kehoe to equalise. The midfielder found space inside the penalty area before dispatching a neat, low finish beyond goalkeeper Carrie Simpson.
The end of normal time brought a chance for each side, Fran Orthodoxou’s strike was blocked bravely by a Leeds defender, before Macy Ellis couldn’t find the target after a fizzing ball across the area.
Neither side could find a breakthrough and the tie was to be settled by a penalty shootout. Albion scored four from five, with goalkeeper Johnson the hero as she acrobatically saved two Leeds penalties to ensure a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Albion: Johnson, Sharp, Reynolds, Heselden, Haughey; Watkins (Orthodoxou 71’), Rabjohn, Warner, Sorrentino (Kehoe 64’); Jhamat (Robinson 56’), May (Oakley 88’).
Subs not used: Clarke, Evans, McFarlane.
Albion shootout order: Oakley – scored. Warner – scored. Kehoe – missed. Orthodoxou – scord. Robinson – scored.