Aileen Whelan scored for the second time this season against Everton as Albion came from behind to draw their final Barclays FA Women’s Super League game of the campaign.
Whelan had been on target in the 1-0 win over the Toffees in November and struck again after coming on as a substitute at the break, firing in her fourth goal of the season after Inessa Kaagman’s thunderous strike came back off the bar.
Nathalie Bjorn gave Everton the lead just before half-time but Albion dominated the second half and Whelan’s goal was no more than they deserved. Kaagman’s header hit the post but despite lots of pressure the hosts couldn’t find the winner.
Maisie Symonds was making her first WSL start and was involved a lot in the first half, with some neat touches bringing her team-mates into play and earning applause from the crowd.
Symonds turned her marker and fired inches wide while Kaagman’s shot lacked power after Emma Koivisto nodded Fliss Gibbons’ deep cross back into the danger area during Albion's best first-half spell.
At the other end Meg Walsh made a terrific save to push away Anna Anvegard’s header before Everton broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when they built down the right and Bjorn smashed a right-foot shot past a helpless Walsh into the roof of the net.
It was slightly against the run of play and Albion made two changes at the break as they tried to get back into the game with Whelan and Emma Kullberg coming on for Megan Connolly and Gibbons.
And Whelan was on target seven minutes after coming on, firing into the corner after Kaagman’s terrific 25-yard shot had crashed back off the crossbar.
Albion went close to going in front in the 58th minute when Koivisto dug out a cross from the right and Kaagman’s header was going in until keeper Courtney Brosnan touched it onto the post.
The hosts now had the momentum. Kaagman’s low cross only just eluded the stretching Symonds and Koivisto, Symonds let fly from distance but her shot was always rising over Brosnan’s goal then the visitors’ keeper got right behind Whelan’s well-struck shot.
Kayleigh Green and Danielle Carter came on to offer more forward options but there was a scare for Albion when Walsh hesitated and had to make a good save to deny Claire Emslie just inside the box late on.
It ended with honours even and Albion finished the season in seventh place.
Albion: Walsh, Koivisto, Gibbons (Kullberg 45), Kerkdijk, Williams, Le Tissier, Symonds, Connolly (Whelan 45), Kaagman (Green 66), Zigiotti, Lee (Carter 82).
Subs: Startup, Bowman, Bance, Simpkins.
Attendance: 1371