Albion Women progressed into the second round of the FAWNL Plate after a 3-1 victory away at Leek Town.
Mariam Mahmood, Abby Bevan and Kerry Walklett all returned to the starting XI whilst Development youngster Lucy Newell was drafted in for her first senior start.
Coming into the fixture a division higher than the hosts, Albion asserted their dominance early on, controlling large portions of possession as they got to grips with the game.
Mahmood put early pressure on the opponents’ goal, slipping past the back line on a couple of occasions and firing just over the bar in the opening 15 minutes.
The Baggies broke the deadlock soon after through top goalscorer, Shannon Stamps. Skipper Hannah George found herself in space on the left and fired in a wicked delivery, finding Stamps in the centre who scrambled the ball home to pick up her fifth goal of the season.
After some early sighters, Mahmood was soon rewarded for her efforts. Newell broke through the midfield and threaded the ball through to Stamps who squared the ball to Mahmood to calmly slot home.
Albion were pegged back just before the break as the hosts grabbed a goal of their own to keep the game alive going into the second half.
It didn’t take long for the Baggies to restore their two-goal cushion. Just two minutes into the second half, Sophie Tudor made a great run into the box to latch on to a Stamps throw in and hooked the ball into Walklett whose deflected finish found the back of the net to earn her a first goal of the season.
The chances continued to fall for Albion as the half went on with Mahmood and Walklett both coming close, but neither could find the net to add to their side’s tally.
Albion Women will return to The Hawthorns next Sunday for their second outing as they take on Derby County in the FAWNL.
Tickets are available for just £5 for adults and £3 for under-18s. Supporters can secure their seat online, in person from the East Stand Ticket Office or by calling 0121 227 2227.
Albion Women: Clarke, George (C), Loydon (Evans 61), Walklett (Warner 75), Green, Bevan (Straker 81), Crackle, Tudor, Stamps (Arber 61), Mahmood, Newell
Subs: Haydn-Jones