West Brom Women Secure Dramatic Late Winner in Thrilling Clash
In a nail-biting encounter, West Brom Women delivered a stunning 95th-minute winner to defeat Liverpool Feds, significantly enhancing their prospects for a top-four finish in the National League Northern Premier Division. The match, held on April 7, 2026, saw the hosts take an early lead through goals from Ella Haughey and Taylor Reynolds, only to be pulled back by their Merseyside opponents.
Manager's Pride in Team Resilience
West Brom manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still expressed immense pride in her squad's resilience and determination. "We're buzzing to get the win, but I thought it could've gone either way," she stated. "Feds made it really difficult for us at times. I'm really proud that the girls dug deep, stayed in the game, and we earned the right to get that chance at the end." Hodgetts-Still highlighted the defensive solidity and clinical finishing that led to Marli Rhodes' late goal, sparking jubilant celebrations among players and staff.
She praised the bravery of key players, noting, "I've been asking Taylor and Ella to be braver and go higher. Taylor has had a few opportunities to score in recent weeks, and it's only a matter of time until she scores. She deserved her chance and I'm glad she took it." The victory leaves West Brom in fifth place, just three points behind Stoke with two league fixtures remaining, setting up a tense finale to the season.
Birmingham City's FA Cup Exit
In other women's football news, Birmingham City of Women's Super League 2 suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to top-flight leaders Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Khadija Shaw opened the scoring within seven minutes, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Lucy Thomas, and Manchester City held on to secure their place in the next round. This result marks a disappointing end to Birmingham City's cup campaign, despite a valiant effort against a strong opponent.
Struggles in National League Division One Midlands
Meanwhile, in the National League Division One Midlands, both Kidderminster Harriers and Stourbridge faced defeats in their ongoing battles against relegation. Harriers lost 2-1 to Leafield Athletic, despite taking a first-half lead through Grace Rogers. Stourbridge were beaten 2-0 at home by Sheffield, leaving them in the relegation zone. With two fixtures left this season, Harriers sit three points above Stourbridge, adding pressure to their final matches as they fight to avoid the drop.
Hodgetts-Still reflected on the broader significance of West Brom's win, emphasizing the team's growth and aspirations. "This group has aspirations to go higher and where we want to go and finish in the table," she said. "We had some really good words at half-time, and as I said, the game could've gone either way, but we dug deep to show how far we've come together." Looking ahead, she added, "Next week's another opportunity to play at The Hawthorns, we want to continue on our run, take the positives from today and bring them into next week."
