Hannah George scored a heroic hat-trick as Albion Women beat Lye Town 6-2 in their FAWNL Cup group-stage encounter on Sunday afternoon.
A frantic first half saw the Baggies have to come from behind after going ahead via Liv Rabjohn’s corner, restoring level terms in added time through George.
Though Charlie Fripp’s side found their rhythm in the second period, as the defender completed her three-goal haul, while Jess Collyer and Rhianne Oakley were also on target.
Albion looked to assert their authority on proceedings early on. Collyer had the best opportunity of the first half, she saw a strike cleared off the line at close-range, and unfortunately, the rebound found the gloves of Justine Lewis.
George was next up as her cross looped all the way onto the crossbar, but the visitors would soon have the upper hand in the scoreline.
In looking for George in the box, skipper Rabjohn’s corner found the head of a Lye defender, and the ball cannoned in past Lewis for the opener.
The hosts seemed to find their rhythm not long afterwards, though and either side of Monique Robinson’s miss from a few yards out, notched through Britt Lotte to turn the game on its head.
But Albion were keen to respond, and did so through George in additional time. The full-back managed to arrow a volley from Robinson’s corner to ensure the scores remained level at half-time.
And they managed to maintain their momentum in the second period, Robinson found Collyer space beyond the Lye back-line, leaving her to slip past the onrushing Lewis to restore the visiting lead.
Rabjohn and George combined again for the fourth, the former picked out the latter with an inviting corner delivery for the defender to nod home.
Forward Oakley continued the rout as she steamed beyond the home defence to slide past Lewis from close range with just 20 minutes remaining.
But even still, there was one more chance for Albion, and after substitute Rhianne Rush was fouled in the penalty area - George stepped up from the spot to complete her hat-trick and hand the visitors a well-earned three points.
Albion: Grimshaw; Sharp, Green, Day (Haughey 64’), George; Rabjohn, Jones, Robinson; Oakley, Collyer (Rush 80’), Mannu (Kirk 68’).
Substitutes: Clarke, Reynolds, Creaney, Powell.
