BURTON Albion bowed out of the Birmingham County Cup after a 4-1 loss in the quarter-finals to Boldmere St Michaels.
Despite competing well for much of the game, fatigue played a part as the Brewers fell to defeat against the Mikes.
Goals either side of Millie Drinkhall’s equaliser from Jess Lundie and Cheyanne Jarvis had given the hosts a half-time lead.
Yet, the Brewers were very much still in the contest until a penalty concession allowed former Brewer Hayleigh Sutton to convert from the spot, and soon after Macy Fox added a fourth.
The game started in electric fashion, and Boldmere needed just seven minutes to break the deadlock.
Fox did well on the left to square the ball across the box to LUNDY who was waiting to pounce at the back post. The winger had a simple finish, slotting the ball past Alice Langstone.
Their lead did not last long, however, as Burton responded almost immediately. A brilliant corner delivery from Ella Ritchie found DRINKHALL at the back post, who volleyed past the goalkeeper for her third goal in two games.
Yet, the goal didn’t faze Boldmere as they continued to look dangerous down the right-hand side through the lively Lundy, and influential Sutton.
Sutton, in fact, was the creator of the goal that put the hosts back ahead. A delicious cross to the back post from the right-back was perfect for CHEYANNE JARVIS, who nodded past Langstone.
The Brewers tried to respond quickly again, but this time the home goalkeeper was alert to parry away Charlotte Jarvis’s powerful shot from outside the penalty area.
Following the interval, Burton were on the backfoot as the hosts pressed for a two-goal cushion.
Chances were at a premium, however, as the Brewers defended doggedly. Steph Weston had an opportunity but hooked her effort wide whilst Langstone did brilliantly to hold onto a curler that was heading for the top corner.
In the 67th minute, Burton’s resistance would finally break, as Charlotte Jarvis mis-timed a tackle inside the area – leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Star player SUTTON stepped up and managed to send the ball into the bottom-left corner, out of reach of Langstone’s outstretched hand.
Quickly after, the Mikes had a fourth. FOX did superbly in the box to trick her way past Jarvis on the byline and then somehow managed to squeeze her effort in from an impossible angle.
Burton legs were tiring, but they didn’t give up, defending well in the final stages to ensure the score-line did not get any worse, with Boldmere’s only subsequent chance coming when a long-range shot flew wide from the second phase of a corner.
With their cup run brought to an end, the Brewers are back in league action next week with a hugely important clash with Leafield Athletic.