Albion Women Interim Head Coach Charlie Fripp admits he “couldn’t have asked for anymore from the players” in their final pre-season test on Thursday.
The Baggies created plenty against rivals Wolves and drew 1-1 in a behind closed doors encounter.
Forward Abbey Jones notched the only goal for the hosts, and after producing an impressive display against full-time opposition - Fripp is positive about his side’s prospects heading into the 2026/27 season.
He said: “The girls put in a great performance tonight. They were professional, worked hard and worked together - I couldn’t have asked them for any more.
“Wolves are a WSL2 side and are full-time, they’ve been dominant for years in our league so for us to go toe-to-toe with them, I’m really happy about.
“The girls have been strong throughout pre-season, the new recruits have settled really well and gelled great as a team. We couldn’t have asked for anymore on or off the pitch. We’re excited for the season ahead and we just can’t wait to get going now.
“They’ve bought into the style of play we’ve been looking at. They’re at their happiest when they’re doing it and we’ve seen them execute it this week.
“Next week will be one to look forward to. The girls will be up for this one, we will be too.”
Defender Zoe Creaney believes Thursday’s result was the “perfect way” to round-off their pre-season efforts, and now has her attentions firmly fixed on Sunday’s FAWNL Northern Premier curtain-raiser against Stoke City.
She said: “It was the perfect way to round-off pre-season. Everyone put in 100 per cent, everyone gave everything tonight and to score from open play, the press was superb and we managed to get on the end of it - I can’t fault the girls at all - everyone was great.
“We’ve been pressing high but it’s something we’re all buying into. It’s been great and the girls are all clicking together with that. It’s a new group of players but we’re finally there and ready to take on the season.
“Last game against Portsmouth we proved it too, but going into today, it’s a high-intensity game where we showed we’re more than capable of competing - it makes for an interesting first few games of the season now.
“It should give us confidence now, the patterns we’ve worked on are coming out in the games - we’re ready now.”
