First-half goals from Evie Gallop and Hattie James helped Albion Women safely reach the third round of the Birmingham County Cup against Leafield Athletic.
After a three-week lay off, Louis Sowe’s women came racing out of the blocks as Gallop pounced on a loose ball after two minutes and floated a shot over Leafield ‘keeper Michelle McCormack.
Albion doubled their lead after 26 minutes, James caught McCormack off her line and clipped a deft lob over the ‘keeper from 30 yards.
The home side dominated possession throughout the game and their lead could have been stretched further as Shannon Stamps and Jade Arber came close before the interval.
As the rain began to pour in the second half, Arber almost made it three as she found herself through on goal but could only fire wide.
As conditions worsened, chances became rarer and it wasn’t until the 83rd minute that Keeley Davies struck the visitor’s post after the ball fell to her in the area.
The game looked to have been fading out until Leafield’s Sofi Liperis slammed a shot against the crossbar in the dying moments of the game.
Albion’s next test will be a trip to Fylde in the league next week, as they look to make it three from three in all competitions.
ALBION: Kinnerley, Stamps, George (Deery 78), Orthodoxou, Elsmore, Baines, Murray, Davies, Arber (Benford 71), James (Webb 62), Gallop, (Rogers 62)