Albion Women gave 17 players a runout in their first pre-season friendly against Swindon Town on Sunday afternoon.
The Robins notched twice in the first half at Foundation Park before Trialist B scored for the visitors during the second period.
New additions Abbey Jones and Harriet Grimshaw also featured for the first time, as the Baggies were narrowly beaten in Martyn Irvine’s first match in charge.
The visitors began the first-half brightly, skipper Liv Rabjohn arrowed a corner towards the head of defender Zoe Creaney, but the defender found a Swindon defender in the way as she turned an effort goal wards.
Despite their early dominance, it was the hosts who would deal an early blow to Irvine’s side. A quick break saw Swindon exploit space in-behind the Albion back-line for Tori St Clair to tap home the opener.
Irvine’s side soon found their groove again, though, as Ella Haughey found some joy on the left-hand-side, leaving Trialist A to blaze a shot over the bar.
Haughey was again at the heart of the Baggies’ toil in the final third. She found Trialist B, who saw a shot deflect into the arms of the Robins’ goalkeeper, before Abbey Jones was beaten to a long ball as she raced through on goal.
Swindon again turned the tide of the game, and made it two before halfway. Skipper Annie Colston roved through the centre of the field and lofted a speculative effort over the head of Grimshaw for a home second.
After half-time, Albion found their rhythm again, and got the reward for their pressure. Chidubem Arinze managed to smuggle the ball through to Trialist B, who swept an effort home to halve the deficit.
Similar circumstances saw Trialist B with the chance to score again not long after, but her shot went narrowly wide of the upright. Arinze tested the goalkeeper with an effort late on but it was well-held by the Robins shot-stopper.
But it wasn’t to be for Albion, who returned to the Midlands with plenty more minutes in the legs and a first pre-season match under their belt.
Albion: Grimshaw; Reynolds (Trialist D 30’), Creaney, George, Haughey (Hill 60’); Rabjohn, Trialist A (Sharp 30’), Jones (Arinze 45’); Oakley (Harlin 30’), Trialist B, Trialist C (Downie 30’).
