Albion Women were defeated by Stoke City in their FAWNL Northern Premier opening match on Sunday afternoon.
The Baggies were two down by half-time thanks to Roisin Kivel and Delphi Cole, but couldn’t find any goals to respond with.
The hosts made the better start to proceedings, and had the ball in the net after just four minutes. Cole scored, but Evie Priestley was ruled offside in the build-up.
Fripp’s side looked to respond, with Milly Round and Riya Mannu both taking aim unsuccessfully before the 15-minute mark.
But the alarm bells began to sound for the Baggies when Charlotte Clarke tipped Cole’s shot around the post.
Stoke took the lead minutes later, Abby Clarke’s mazy run gave her room to cross, and she found the boot of Kivel to slam home the opening goal.
The Baggies came inches away from equalising through Lucy Day, whose header made Maddie Crosbie work to parry it away - but the hosts would have a chance from the penalty spot after Zoe Creaney brought down a Stoke attacker in the box.
Delphi Cole duly converted, and despite Jess Collyer’s opening in added time, the visitors went in behind at the break.
Cole had another opportunity in the second period, but couldn’t convert and Stamps’ audacious strike narrowly missed Clarke’s goal with 15 remaining.
Fripp tried to turn the screw by introducing the likes of Hannah George, Monique Robinson and Rhianne Oakley, but Albion couldn’t get a goal back, and were left to mull defeat at the bet365 Stadium.
Albion: Clarke; Reynolds, Creaney, Day (George 81’), Haughey; Powell, Rush, Mannu (Robinson 81’); Jones, Round, Collyer (Oakley 65’).
Substitutes: Grimshaw, Green, Sharp, Rabjohn.
