BURTON Albion were unlucky to lose their first game of the season to Worcester City on Sunday, with the Brewers struggling to find form in front of goal.
The visitors took the lead early in the game, as they scored just one minute into the season opener. Defender Cerys Dolloway was able to leap highest in the box as she powered a header into the top corner leaving Alice Langstone helpless in goal.
Despite conceding early, the Brewers grew into the game nicely and they immediately headed up to the other end of the pitch looking for an instant reply.
It was the linkup play between Hajrah Mahmood and Ciara Fray down the left wing that caught the eye in the opening 10 minutes, as the pair linked up nicely to send Mahmood through on goal. The youth team graduate Mahmood was denied her first goal of the season however, as Alisha Hine rushed out of net to get down quickly and block the onrushing Mahmood.
Worcester got their first sight of goal since the opener in the 17th minute, as Holly Rogers was sent through one on one with Langstone. The keeper came out on top this time, making a smart save down to her left to keep the score at 1-0.
Mahmood again went close on the half-hour mark, this time using her pace to get in behind the defence leaving her bearing down on Hine in goal. With the angle against the forward however, she flashed a shot just wide of the post and into the side netting.
The last few minutes of the first half were end-to-end, with both teams pressing for the second goal of the game before the break. Jennifer Higgs looked all but set to score for the visitors, as she broke through on goal from her own half however quick reactions from Langstone in net saved the Brewers going behind by two, as she smartly saved a shot down low with her foot.
The Brewers wasted no time from the keeper’s throw, as they were straight up the other end on the counter with Millie Drinkhall unlucky to see her deflected strike from outside the box flash just wide of the post.
Worcester started the second half much like they did the first as Higgs broke free down the right wing and sprinted free. The winger was no match however for Albion full-back and new signing Abigail Linney, who caught up with the speedy forward in no time, cutting out any danger with a sharp tackle.
The visitors managed to double their lead midway through the second half after some fantastic solo play from Freya Harrad down the left wing. The tricky forward managed to beat two players before delivering a cross to the back post where Jennifer Higgs was on hand to poke home Worcester’s second goal.
There were bright attacking spells throughout the rest of the game for the Brewers however they struggled to make it count in front of goal, with both Mahmood and Drinkhall seeing multiple efforts saved in the closing half an hour.
Although the Brewers are left on zero points after the first weekend, there were plenty of positives to take from the game, which Tommy Booth and Kristian Gilbert's side will look to build on when they face Crusaders at the Pirelli Stadium 3G pitch next weekend.