Albion Women fell to defeat on their travels at the hands of Stoke City in the FAWNL Northern Premier Division on Sunday.
The Baggies created opportunities but were ultimately undone after Stoke scored through Millie Ravening, Tamara Wilcock, and Evie Priestley.
Albion are back in action next Sunday, with hopes of opening their Women's FA Cup account with a win away at Knowle.
Head coach Siobhan Hodgetts-Still made three changes to the side that competed in the FAWNL Cup last weekend. Captain Hannah George, Marli Rhodes, and Ali Miller were all restored to the starting line-up.
The hosts came out of the traps quickly, and a purposeful pass from midfield left Ravening with space to shoot just inside the box, fortunately for Albion, Anna Miller came out to close the angle and palm away.
Eventual Potters scorer Wilcock hit the bar from close range soon after, following a dangerous ball towards the back post. Stoke then made their dominance pay, Ravening scored from the penalty spot, sending Miller the wrong way.
Hodgetts-Still would’ve wanted a reaction as the two sides returned for the second period, and they began with plenty of attacking intent. Miller pounced onto a loose pass inside the Stoke penalty area but her efforts to shoot were snuffed out.
After an inventive turn past two defenders from substitute Phoebe Warner, she slipped Miller in on goal but despite having daylight between herself and the goalkeeper, had her effort saved by Lauren Bracewell.
Despite Albion’s chances, Wilcock and Priestley’s strikes from range meant they left Staffordshire with nothing to show for their efforts.
Albion Women: Miller; Brown, Reynolds, Green, George; Watkins (Evans 71’), Rabjohn, Haughey (Jhamat 56’), May (Pullen 74’); Rhodes-Andrews (Warner 56’), Miller (Oakley 71’).
Substitutions: Mahmood, Harris.