Burton Albion Women's hopes in the Birmingham FA County Cup ended in defeat on Sunday afternoon as they lost 2-0 to Stourbridge at the War Memorial Stadium.
The match remained goalless until the final five minutes, when Olivia Arnold struck twice to send Stourbridge through to the next round.
How the match unfolded
Burton started brightly, with an early cross cleared by Abbie Davies. Keeper Freya Mear was called upon early to react quickly to a low strike that came through a crowd of players.
Freya Holman thought she had scored after charging down a cross from the Stourbridge keeper, but the ball ricocheted to Grace Adeyinka, whose strike was saved. After 25 minutes, Alana Keary attempted a cross from the right that was blocked, and the resulting corner was clipped wide.
Mear was tested again around the half-hour mark when she rushed out to meet an attacker in a one-on-one situation, clearing the ball with her feet. Before the break, Burton won a free-kick on the edge of the box after Ella Doocey was tripped as she entered the final third. Shanae Thomas's delivery was caught by the wind but the Stourbridge keeper managed to gather it.
Manager Heidi Sloan made a triple substitution at half-time, including a change in goal as Gracie Thompson replaced Mear. Thompson was immediately tested, making a save down to her right to parry danger away as Stourbridge countered. On the hour mark she was in action again, this time making another save to parry the ball to safety.
Mariette Gaynor tried her luck from distance on 75 minutes, with the ball dropping inches wide of the target, looking like it might break the deadlock. But Stourbridge increased the pressure late on, and with five minutes remaining Arnold scrambled the ball home from close range with bodies everywhere in the box.
The goal sparked Stourbridge into life. They quickly added a second as Arnold slotted home again on the counter-attack while Burton pushed for a late leveller.