Albion Women were narrowly beaten 3-2 by FAWNL Northern Premier high-flyers Stoke City in their final home match of 2024/25.
The Baggies pressed the Staffordshire outfit into a tight finish at the Valley Stadium, but despite strikes from Rhianne Oakley and Simran Jhamat, they couldn’t quite turn the scoreline round.
Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made three alterations to the side that beat Derby County in their last outing. Hannah George and Kate Evans were restored to the XI, while forward Ali Miller also came back in.
The Baggies arguably started the brighter of the two teams, as Marli Rhodes struck the bar from a free-kick before Stoke blocked Miller’s rebound from inside the goalmouth.
Despite their early positivity, it was the visitors who went in front. Goalkeeper Lavarna Johnson palmed away a long-range effort from Jess Reavill before a deflection left Shannon Stamps to tap into an empty net.
Stoke grabbed their second shortly after. Evie Priestly found space behind the Albion back-line and slid the ball beyond the reach of the stopper.
Albion soon relit the spark that saw them start the game so well. Captain George was fouled inside the penalty area, leaving striker Oakley to bag her eighth of the season from the spot.
The celebrations were short lived as the Potters restored their two-goal cushion after the break. Millie Ravening was found at the back post, where she steadied herself amidst pressure to nod into the Albion net.
Substitute Simran Jhamat set the game up for a grandstand finish with her strike seconds after coming on, before her looped effort was cleared off the line in the dying moments, leaving Albion with nothing to show for their efforts.
The Baggies are next in action on Sunday, April 27, when they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
Albion Women: Johnson, Reynolds, George, Oliver, Haughey, Rabjohn, Evans, Warner, Rhodes (Jhamat 66’), Oakley (Janny 87’), Miller (May 46’).
Substitutes: Mahmood, Sharp.
