Baggies twice come from behind only to lose on penalties
SPORTING Club Albion Ladies suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak in last night’s Birmingham County Cup final with Coventry City.City, who sit one division above the Baggies in the top flight, took the lead after just two minutes and looked to be heading for glory in 90 minutes until Ashleigh Neville’s (pictured) last-gasp equaliser took the game into extra-time.
It was déjà vu in extra-time as City again went in front, only for Robyn James to equalise in the final minute and force penalties.
Albion cruelly lost 5-3 on spot-kicks but manager Dave Lawrence was proud of his team’s performance.
“The girls were really prepared and we knew we had the fitness to compete with Coventry throughout the game,” he said.
“We did more than compete with them; in large parts of the game we shaded it.
“We hit the bar, hit the post and had some great counter attacking opportunities that we didn’t make the most of.”
Lawrence also paid tribute to the Albion fans that came along to Solihull Moors FC’s ground to support his side.
“There was a massive turnout from the Albion fans which was greatly appreciated by me and all the girls,” he added.
“Anyone who watched would say there wasn’t a great deal of difference between the two sides, and in fact if you had asked who the national side was and which side played in the Northern Premier
Division you would not have known.”
Sporting Club Albion travel to Blackburn Rovers next Thursday (ko 7.30pm) for their final game of the season.
For more information on SCA Ladies, you can follow them on Twitter @SCALadies or like them on Facebook www.Facebook.com/AlbionLadies.
By Sean McCarron.