Albion Women gained a respectable point against FAWNL Northern Premier Division promotion contenders Burnley at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
Head coach Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made three changes to the side which beat Huddersfield Town last weekend. Skipper Hannah George joined Simran Jhamat and Kate Evans in the starting XI, replacing Taylor Reynolds, Mariam Mahmood and Fran Orthodoxou.
Albion looked to utilise the home crowd advantage as they surged forward in the early stages. Delphi Cole saw a shot blocked inside the penalty area, while Jhamat turned on the spot and let fly from range, only to see the ball dip just over the crossbar.
The Baggies did eventually get their reward for the early pressure, though. Olivia Rabjohn crossed towards the back post, Burnley defender Naomi Hartley tried to control the ball, but Phoebe Warner snuck behind her to prod past the goalkeeper and give the hosts the lead.
With jubilation in B71 at a high, Burnley searched for an instant reply, but Aimee Kelly could only stroke a curved effort into the arms of the grateful Anna Miller.
However, Albion remained dangerous and came close to adding a second just after the break - Lucy Newell strode through the centre of the pitch before playing Cole into space, yet the on-loan Birmingham City forward hit her thunderous strike into the side-netting.
Burnley then grabbed an equaliser in the 58th-minute. Leah Embley burst into the box before squaring to Kelly, who produced an audacious flick to beat Miller and claw the game back to level terms.
The Baggies still looked to hit the visitors on the counter-attack, and Warner tried for her second as she broke behind the back line before being crowded out by Clarets’ defenders.
Burnley were also in search of the final blow and came close to doing so. Abby Clarke reversed the ball sharply into the path of substitute Lizzy Hamer - she put her laces through a goalbound attempt, and thankfully it was bravely saved by Miller between the Albion sticks.
In the end, neither team could carve out a winner and they each left The Hawthorns with a solid point.
Albion Women are next in action on Thursday, March 14, against Stourbridge at The Paycare Ground, Darlaston.
Albion: Miller, Brown, Newell, Reavill, George, Evans (Orthodoxou 61’), Loydon, Warner, Jhamat (Mahmood 78’), Rabjohn (Reynolds 67’), Cole (Straker 89’).
Substitutes: Jones.