Baggies overcome Radcliffe Olympic
HAZZANA Parnell scored twice on her return as WBA FC Women advanced through to round three of the SSE FA Women's Cup with a 4-0 win over Radcliffe Olympic FC.
The winger who has not been involved with the First team squad since October, opened the scoring before doubling her tally in the Second half.
Abi Cottam and Phoebe Warner were also on the scoresheet to help give Albion the perfect start to 2017.
The game started slowly as Craig Nicholls' side attempted to find their rhythm again following a three week break. Yet it was the visitors who produced the first effort on goal when Albion keeper Thomas was forced to make a routine save following a free kick from distance by Harford.
Despite the early scare, it was Albion who took the lead when Parnell bundled the ball home from close-range after an excellent low cross from the left by Cottam.
Thomas then had to hold onto a well struck effort by Jackson to keep the Baggies ahead.
In the 38th minute Cottam increased Albion's lead beating the offside trap to slot home a wonderfully weighted pass from Warner.
It got even better for the Baggies just after the break when Parnell capitalised on a misjudged bouncing ball by Radcliffe defender Plummer to fire home past keeper Turner.
And Phoebe Warner put the icing on the cake to grab her first goal of the season finding the bottom corner with a well placed effort after Radcliffe had failed to clear a Cottam left-wing cutback.
Head coach Craig Nicholls praised his team after the win.
"We didn't start well and you could see why we have had a three week break.
"Second half we improved and started to play the kind of football we know the girls are capable of.
"I'm pleased with the result, but we know we've got a couple of training sessions this week that we need to improve on ready for Burton."
WBA FC Women: Thomas, Highman, Wright (Bate 58), Stewart, Darby (c), Hull, Parnell, Greaves, Cottam, Warner (Price 78), Dugmore (Moore 69).
Unused Subs: Butcher, Dicken.
Radcliffe Olympic FC: S.Turner, L.Turner, Shaw, Bailey, Plummer, Saulter, Ramadan, Hartford, Jackson (Lewis 45), Jones (Evans 56), Tebutt.
Unused Subs: None.