Albion Women were held to a score draw by Loughborough Lightning in their season opener at Loughborough University Stadium on Sunday.
The Baggies took the lead through Fran Orthdoxou but were immediately pegged back by an Ella-Mai Coutts strike for the hosts, with neither side finding a way to settle the tie in their favour.
Manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still opted for familiarity with her first selection of the campaign, offering new additions Amya Hammond-McLean, Ruby Heselden and Molly Kehoe a place on the bench on matchday one.
It was the newly-promoted hosts who started the brighter. Forward Lucy Cooper forced Lavarna Johnson to tip a header onto the crossbar within the first five minutes.
It was the Baggies though who dealt the first blow. Liv Rabjohn’s corner was bundled over the line by midfielder Orthodoxou, handing the visitors a promising advantage in Leicestershire.
Albion didn't have long to savour their opener, mind. Johnson’s initial save from Cooper left Coutts with the chance to slot home from close range for a Loughborough equaliser - just two minutes after going behind.
The Baggies could’ve regained their advantage just before the half-time break. Simran Jhamat’s cross found striker Rhianne Oakley at the back post, though she was unable to keep her effort down and blazed over the crossbar.
Orthodoxou almost made it a brace just after half-time in near identical fashion to her first. Rabjohn’s corner again met the head of the Albion midfielder, but this time she nodded inches wide.
The Baggies had two late chances through striker Oakley, but her header and low drive couldn’t find the net as the visitors were forced to settle for a point.
Albion are back in action on Wednesday evening when they make the short trip to Stourbridge in the FAWNL Cup.
Albion: Johnson; Reynolds, Green, George, Haughey; Rabjohn (c), Orthodoxou (Evans 77’), Watkins (Kehoe 77’), May, Jhamat (Hammond-McLean 66’); Oakley (Janny 88’).
Substitutes: Sharp, Heselden.
