ALBION’s fight for survival may have come to an end after a battling 2-1 defeat away at Fylde Ladies on the final day of the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division campaign.
The Baggies now face an anxious wait for official confirmation on relegation after finishing bottom of the table at the end of the season.
Current Football Association rules stipulate that two teams will face demotion should they occupy the bottom two places but, with a restructure set to take place in the summer, a decision could mean the Baggies retain their place in the league.
Fylde started the brighter of the two sides, hitting the woodwork three times in the opening stages of the first half, while at the other end Hattie James forced Alex Brookes into a fine save as Louis Sowe’s side searched for a vital opener.
It took just five second-half minutes for Albion to grab that all-important goal to keep their survival hopes alive when Lucy Finch fired into the roof of the net from a Hannah George corner.
James almost doubled Albion’s advantage but placed the effort wide before the Baggies were undone by an unfortunate own goal and then an 83rd-minute winner by Sophie Charlton, which ended any hopes of a Baggies fightback.
ALBION: Kinnerley, Finn, George, Merritt (c), Finch, Sinclair, Murray, Bevan, James (Pagan 65), Dale, Mitchell (Stamps 75).
Unused sub: Gompertz.