Albion Women were defeated by Stoke City in their FAWNL Northern Premier outing at the bet365 Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Three Potters’ strikes were the telling touches, despite plenty of chances for the visitors to score.
Boss Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made two changes to the side that were beaten by Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend. Skipper Liv Rabjohn and defender Zoe Creaney were reinstated into the XI.
The Baggies almost went a goal down after three minutes in Staffordshire. Holly Deering picked off a loose pass out of the back-line, before firing marginally wide of the target.
Forward Rhianne Oakley almost replied instantly, as she came close to picking the pocket of goalkeeper Lucy Farell, but the Stoke shot-stopper recovered well to escape that precarious moment.
It was the hosts who opened the scoring just five minutes later, Lucia Molinari’s powerful ball in needed just a flick from Evie Priestley to bury an effort beyond Charlotte Clarke and grab the opener.
Albion had two big opportunities to respond as the first half came to a close. Ella Haughey lofted a pin-point cross towards the head of Oakley, moments before she then couldn’t beat Farell despite some successful high-pressing from the visitors.
Ellie May and Oakley missed their opportunities as they raced through on goal during the opening stages of the second half, but Stoke once again proved to be clinical in-front of goal.
A quick turnover in possession meant Delphi Cole doubled the hosts’ advantage.
Hodgetts-Still made an attacking triple change to try and force the issue, but despite Monique Robinson’s late effort, it was to little avail.
Ruby Millingter added a third in the latter stages, meaning the Baggies went home from the Potteries empty-handed.
Albion: Clarke; Reynolds, Creaney, Green (Sharp 90’); May (Warner 65’), Rabjohn (Orthodoxou 65’), Watkins, Haughey; Mannu, Robinson, Oakley (Rhodes 65’).
Substitutes: Johnson.
