Spot-on revenge as West Brom Women see off Wolves on penalties
Revenge was a dish best served cold for Albion as they came through a dramatic penalty shootout in cup action against Wolves.
The Black Country bragging rights this time belong to the Baggies as they booked their place in the last four of the Birmingham County FA Challenge Cup.
It was the perfect tonic for October's humiliating 8-0 defeat to Wolves in front of supporters at The Hawthorns. It also ends a clash dominated by Wolves recently, including a 11-game winning run.
It took spot-kicks for Siobhan Hodgetts-Still's side to secure derby day delight but it was an afternoon for the hosts to savour at their home of The Valley Stadium in Redditch.
The clash went all the way to penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Phoebe Warner was Albion's goal hero in the tight and tense tie as she swivelled to find the top corner from range in stunning style with just 20 minutes left.
But visitors Wolves - rivals in the National League Northern Premier - struck back five minutes later through Charlotte Greengrass to force penalties.
It was to be Albion's day, though, with experienced goalkeeper Anna Miller the hero with two penalty saves to deny Anna Morphet and Racheal Quigley for the victory.
Beaten Wolves boss Dan McNamara said: “It’s tough, we just said in there we have been waiting for Albion to turn up for five and a half years!
“All the great runs, they have to come to an end. Thankfully in seven years that’s only my second defeat to them.
“We’re out the cup and that’s the most disappointing part. It’s another cup competition that we feel we should be winning.
"You get what you deserve in football, and today we deserved to go out of the cup. I felt Albion were the better side."
Stourbridge are also into the last four of the competition after a penalty shootout success over Blues.
The Glassgirls responded to Blues early penalty opener through Rosie Axten on 20 minutes. Gwen Horgan put Stourbridge ahead four minutes after the restart but Blues struck last in the final minutes of normal time to force spot-kicks. Stourbridge prevailed 3-1 on penalties.
Villa interim boss Shaun Goater got off to a winning start with a 3-1 Super League victory over West Ham.
The hosts, who sacked Robert de Pauw last week, won comfortably thanks to Adriana Leon's first half double and Kenza Dali late on.
Table-topping Lye Town earned an important 2-1 victory over Burton Albion in West Midlands Premier Division.
Tash Baptiste and Brit Lote were the first-half goalscorers for the home side. Burton struck a consolation 15 minutes from time.
