Two goals in two second-half minutes made it a winning start for Albion in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League against Birmingham City.
Megan Connolly put the Seagulls ahead just before the hour with a great strike from distance before supplying the cross which Inessa Kaagman headed in to double the lead.
It was a thoroughly deserved opening-day success for Hope Powell’s side who also hit the woodwork three times and showed admirable patience and persistence before eventually breaking down a resilient Birmingham defence.
Kaagman was one of four debutants for Albion with one more introduced from the bench and Powell will have been pleased with her team’s performance. The only thing missing was, of course, Albion supporters, who would have been off their feet to celebrate two cracking goals.
The first half was dominated by the Seagulls who were twice denied the goal their pressure deserved by the woodwork.
Kaagman was the first to be frustrated by the goal frame when her 21st-minute volley rattled the bar and Birmingham defender Harriet Scott headed clear as Connolly tried to nod the rebound into an empty net.
Nine minutes later skipper Dani Bowman struck a free kick from 22 yards which beat keeper Hannah Hampton but also came back off the bar.
There were other chances too. Geum-min Lee found the side netting and Katie Robinson saw her shot saved by Hampton after Maya Le Tissier’s diagonal ball picked out the teenager, who had a lively debut before being replaced by Kayleigh Green on the hour.
Aileen Whelan’s overhead kick dropped onto the roof of the net, after Kaagman’s free kick broke to her inside the box, while Megan Walsh was a spectator for much of the first half, although she did have to save Claudia Walker’s shot after Birmingham broke.
Albion continued to dominate after the break but just when it looked as if the goal they deserved might not come, they grabbed two stunners in the space of as many minutes.
The deadlock was broken in the 59th minute. Fliss Gibbons cut in from the left to find Connolly and her right-foot effort from just outside the box flew into the top corner with Hampton left helpless.
Moments later the Ireland international turned provider, whipping over a cross from the right which Kaagman headed down into the ground and up into the roof of the net from close range.
Kaagman nearly had a second when her free-kick from the right struck the near post and as Birmingham tired, it was only a matter of whether Albion could add to their two goals. They weren’t able to, but it was still a promising start although a trip to Manchester City next Sunday will undoubtedly be a sterner test.
Albion: Walsh, Le Tissier, Williams, Stott, Gibbons, Whelan, Bowman, Connolly, Robinson (Green 65), Kaagman (Simpkins 89), Lee (Jarrett 60). Unused subs: Fiskerstrand, Roe, Heroum, Barton.
Birmingham City: Hampton, Mayling, Scott, McCarron (Corsie 55), Murray, Brougham, Walker, Whipp, Napier (Toussaint 84), Scofield, Holloway. Unused subs: Kelly, Lawley.
Referee: Rob Whitton