The 1st team’s season got underway with the Women’s FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round on Sunday. For the fourth time in a row the draw wasn’t as favourable as it might have been with The Pride once again drawn away and against Regional League opposition.

Injuries and assorted holidays and other commitments saw a small squad make the trek south to Halesowen Town - where we found a nice set up and a high quality playing surface. The were debuts for four summer signings; Daisy Bowen, Emma Gittins and Bella Dormer and Emily Hayden on as a second half substitute.

Halesowen made the early running, winning a free kick which was lofted in under Pride’s crossbar but well taken by Jade Howell. It was soon followed by further attempts on goal with Halesowen taking a three goal lead inside 12 minutes.

Nevertheless, Pride had a good period of possession in the middle of the half and started to create chances - a Tash Allderidge free kick from outside the area beat the defensive wall and thundered back off the post, and a couple of minutes later from a throw-in on the left, the ball was worked across the edge of the Halesowen area to Steph Eadon; her well struck shot was tipped over the crossbar by the Halesowen ‘keeper.

At the other end Jade Howell in the Pride goal pulled off an equally good save, showing good reactions to get a strong arm up to turn a close range shot around the post.

However, Halesowen extended their lead on the half hour, adding two more just before half-time. Pride almost pulled one back when Steph Eadon played Daisy Bowen in, she beat the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball but was clipped as she went past the keeper - the referee allowing advantage - but it had been enough to put Daisy off-balance and she hit her shot wide.

Jodie Hill, on at half-time, had made a number of outstanding saves in 1v1 situations but was eventually beaten just after the hour. As in the first half, Pride then had a better spell and were unfortunate not to get at least a consolation goal; Daisy Bowen beat the keeper a couple of times but her shots went just the wrong side of the post. Aimee Healy-Raynor won a header from a corner, but couldn’t direct it and it cleared the bar - and there were a number of shots from outside the area that didn’t trouble the Halesowen keeper.

Pride’s players were visibly tiring as the game came towards the end and conceded a further two goals in the final ten minutes - and in attempting to stop the final goal Jodie Hill’s knee gave out, having been twisted earlier, and she was unfortunately unable to continue, leaving the field with all substitutions made, so Pride played the final few minutes of the game with ten players and Steph Eadon in goal.

It’s been a long time since the Pride were on the wrong end of a scoreline like this, but the difference in the levels of the teams showed as Halesowen moved the ball well and were clinical with their finishing. Sometimes you have to stand back and admire good play and that was certainly the case with at least three of the goals, but Pride will be disappointed to have conceded nine. On the credit side there were good spells in both halves for The Pride with good possession and chances created which they will now hope to take into the first game of the league campaign at Buxton next Sunday.