Albion Women’s unbeaten start to the FA WNL Northern Premier Division campaign came to an end as they suffered late heartbreak against Derby County on Sunday.
The Baggies opened the scoring after three minutes through Olivia Rabjohn but were pegged back by two second-half Rams strikes, including one just seconds from the final whistle.
They are back in action next Sunday as they welcome newly-promoted Sporting Khalsa to The Hawthorns for their second home encounter of the campaign.
Albion made one change to the XI that beat Halifax, Ali Miller coming in for Marli Rhodes-Andrews, who started on the bench versus her former club.
And the away team made a rapid start to proceedings. Phoebe Warner played Rabjohn into space on the left, and she drove towards goal before burying a finish into the bottom corner – giving the Baggies a lead inside three minutes.
Last week’s brace-scorer Ashlee Brown almost netted, too, when her cross evaded everyone including Rams goalkeeper Lucy Jones, yet whistled just the wrong side of the upright.
The Baggies had the ball in the net just ahead of half-time as Simran Jhamat's cross was spilled by Jones, with Miller on hand to score the rebound, however, the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play by the referee.
Derby soon got in gear for the second half. Substitute Amy Cotton found space behind the Baggies' back line, and she gave Chenè Muir the opportunity to tap home.
Albion’s energetic pressing soon saw them among the chances again, this time winning the ball from goalkeeper Jones’ pass, though Simran Jhamat lofted an effort over the bar.
Not long after, debutant Rhianne Oakley knocked the ball past her opponent before a bursting run saw her with space to cross, finding Jhamat who, unfortunately, could not quite trouble the goalkeeper with her shot.
Albion were then handed a late blow via Derby winger Kira Rai. She scrambled a corner over the line in the 90th minute to ensure the visitors left the Don Amott Arena empty-handed.
Albion Women: Miller, Brown, Green, Reynolds, George, Evans, Orthodoxou (Watkins 61’), Rabjohn (Haughey 61’), Warner (Mahmood 81’), Jhamat (Rhodes-Andrews 81’), Miller (Oakley 61’).
Substitutes: Turner, May.
