Albion Women secured their place in the FAWNL Cup semi-finals with a Black Country derby win over Wolves.
A resolute performance at the SEAH Stadium, topped off by Hannah George’s deft second-half header, sealed the derby day bragging rights.
Manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still opted to freshen up the team that beat Leafield Athletic on Wednesday night, making four changes. Charlotte Clarke, Zoe Creaney, Phoebe Warner and captain Olivia Rabjohn were all brought in for the clash in Shropshire.
The Baggies made the brighter start to the derby encounter. Forward Rhianne Oakley, fresh from a midweek goal against Leafield, slalomed inside the Wolves defence before prodding into the grateful arms of Alex Brooks.
It took until the 18th-minute for Charlotte Clarke to be called into action, as she sprung to her right to palm away Amber Hughes’ effort.
The second half began with further Albion promise, and it didn’t take long for defender George to nod the visitors ahead. She ghosted in to meet Taylor Reynolds’ cross to head past Brooks for the opener.
Clarke once again denied Hughes to keep the visitors ahead, before Monique Robinson had a dangerous opportunity on the break to double the lead.
The Baggies had to fend off a few late attacks from the visitors, but were ultimately untroubled, as they were left to celebrate a Black Country derby victory.
Hodgetts-Still’s side will face AFC Bournemouth in the FAWNL Cup semi-finals, with that tie due to be played next weekend - further details will be confirmed in due course.
Albion: Clarke; Green (May 56’), Creaney, George; Reynolds, Rabjohn (Orthodoxou 86’), Watkins, Haughey; Robinson, Oakley, Warner.
Substitutes: Johnson, Jhamat, Sharp, Pullen, Kehoe.
