Double for Parris but Albion go out of FA Cup

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Bruce Talbot

2025-02-08T14:00+00:00

Nikita Parris puts Albion in front. 📷 Simon Roe.

Nikita Parris scored twice but Albion were knocked out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime with a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Parris scored her 22nd and 23rd goals in 40 FA Cup appearances but strikes from Anna Patten, Rachel Daly – a familiar thorn in Albion’s side over the years – and Chasity Grant won it for Villa at Walsall’s Poundland Stadium.

Parris put Albion ahead just before the break but Villa levelled almost immediately and then scored two goals in five minutes early in the second half. Parris pulled one back with her ninth of the season. Albion flooded forward in the closing stages but the home side held firm.

Nadine Noordam battles for possession on her debut. 📷 Simon Roe.

Villa, playing only their second match under new coach Natalia Arroyo, were the more threatening side in the early stages with Melina Loeck pushing Kirsty Hanson’s 22-yard shot round the post before Patten failed to force the ball over from inside the six-yard box after a shot by Noelle Maritz was blocked.

Albion worked their way back into the game and they should have scored in the 27th minute. Jelena Cankovic’s left-wing cross was deflected towards the back post but Maria Thorisdottir, up from the back, was unable to force it home at the back post.

Villa keeper Sabrina D’Angelo scrambled to make a save at the near post to deny debutant Nadine Noordam and then made a better save in the 38th minute to keep out Mady Haley’s shot after the American cut in from the left.

In a rare Villa raid Loeck stretched to push Gabi Nunes’ effort over the bar, but Albion were on top and they went in front after 44 minutes. Lucy Parker failed to deal with a long ball allowing Parris to nip in and dink it past the advancing D’Angelo.

Albion line-up before kick off against Aston Villa. 📷 Simon Roe.

Frustratingly, Albion didn’t hold onto their lead for long. Jordan Nobbs’ corner drifted over to the far post and no one had picked up Anna Patten, who was able to force the ball past Loeck to make it 1-1 at the break.

Nobbs was involved again when Villa took the lead on 50 minutes. The former England midfielder clipped a great pass to the back post where Daly found space to rise above Guro Bergsvand and head powerfully past Loeck.

Five minutes later it was 3-1. Chasity Grant was found by Daly in too much space on the right and she found the bottom far corner with a fine finish.

Nikita Parris gets her second and ninth goal of the season. 📷 Simon Roe.

Albion made a triple change, bringing on Pauline Bremer, Marisa Olislagers and Dejana Stefanovic midway through the second half, but Villa were in control and Loeck made another important save when she pushed out Hanson’s shot.

But while Parris is around Albion always had a chance and in the 72nd minute Parris got Albion back into it. Haley sent her clear and Parris outpaced Patten and found the top left-hand corner beyond D’Angelo.

Albion threw players forward in search of an equaliser with Villa content to play on the counter-attack. Bremer fired wide in stoppage time as the hosts hung on to advance to the quarter-finals.

Albion: Loeck, Thorisdottir (Hayes 88), Bergsvand, Carabali (Bremer 67), Pattinson, Noordam (Stefanovic 66), Losada (Olislagers 67), Cankovic (Agyemang 82), Haley, McLauchlan, Parris.