Rianna Jarrett scored her first Super League goal as Albion claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham United.
The Irish international headed home midway through the second half to secure Albion's second win of the season.
West Ham had been the more threatening until Jarrett struck with Martha Thomas wasting three good opportunities. But Albion, managed for the second time by Perry Northeast in the absence of Hope Powell, were resilient and well organised throughout as they shaded a game between two well-matched sides.
Powell, whose period of self-isolation ends on Tuesday, made four changes to the side beaten by Aston Villa including a first WSL start for goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand. Emily Simpkins came into a holding midfield role and Kayleigh Green returned after suspension.
The visitors made a bright start. Jarrett struck a right-foot shot from 20 yards narrowly wide then Aileen Whelan tested Mackenzie Arnold with a first-time shot when she had more time and space than she realised.
West Ham threatened for the first time in the 16th minute when a long ball put Thomas in. Fiskerstrand elected to come to the edge the box and it proved good judgement as Thomas' shot was blocked.
It sparked the home side into life and the West Ham No.9 had another great opportunity in the 36th minute. Played in on the left by Katerina Svitkova, she dragged her shot from ten yards wide of the far post.
Danique Kerkdijk produced an important block when Emily van Egmond let fly on the edge of the box before Kayleigh Green was booked for a foul on Adriane Leon at the end of a scrappy first half when the home side had carried the greater attacking threat.
There was little change in the pattern of play at the start of the second half. Albion were content to try and threaten on the counter or profit from a set piece and they nearly did that when Arnold needed her wits about her to flip Dani Bowman's in-swinging corner over her own crossbar.
The deadlock was broken in the 69th minute thanks to Jarrett's composure and bravery. Denise O'Sullivan helped the ball on and Jarrett had the presence of mind to lift the ball over Arnold and head in from virtually on the line. A defender clattered into her in the process but it won’t have diluted the joy at her first WSL goal.
O'Sullivan should have doubled Albion's lead two minutes later when she got in on goal but Arnold stood up and deflected her right-foot shot wide of goal.
With the game stretched both sides looked more threatening in the closing 15 minutes. Thomas cut inside Bowman but dragged her shot across the face of goal and in stoppage time West Ham won three corners but couldn’t find a way through a rock-solid Albion defence.
Albion: Fiskerstrand, Le Tissier, Kerkdijk, Bowman, Gibbons, Whelan, Simpkins (Lee 68), O’Sullivan, Green (Heroum 80), Kaagman, Jarrett (Bance 90).
Subs not used: Walsh, Stott, Barton, Brazil, Nokothula.