Wolves women punished in derby thriller

Wolves started brightly in their first competitive fixture for more than three months, but had to contend with blustery conditions.

An audacious overhead kick from Becky Hall, making her first appearance of the season after injury, gave Albion an early scare, but she couldn't make a good enough connection.

But it was Albion who struck the crucial blow in the derby clash as Robyn James prodded home from close range after a cross wasn't cleared in first-half added time.

After the break Wolves missed an array of chances to equalise. Hall tried her luck first but her shot hit the top of the net.

Laura McQuilkin's long-distance shot forced Albion goalkeeper Bec Thomas to make a superb save and she pushed the ball out for a corner, from which Jordan Timmins-Ray had an effort cleared off the line.

Wolves pushed for an equaliser but they were eventually punished for those misses as James grabbed her second with two minutes to go, thundering her effort past Natalie Hall to put the result beyond doubt.