West Brom boss left 'speechless' by 'surreal' cup final success

Hodgetts-Still's side ran riot to thrash their divisional rivals to ensure Birmingham FA County Cup silverware - a first trophy under the head coach - to cap their 2024/25 campaign.

It was a scarcely-believable scoreline as the ruthless Baggies thrashed Rugby, who finished two places and 20 points higher than Albion in the Northern Premier Midlands, at Walsall's Bescot. Borough lost just four of 22 league games this term.

The victors set the tone by racing into a 3-0 lead to leave Rugby trailing on an evening to remember for all connected to the club, with the club's owners publishing their delight to social media.

"I think my smile says it all really!" Said former player Hodgetts-Still, who has completed two seasons in charge of the Baggies Women. "I'm absolutely buzzing for the staff and the players to get that win and bring the silverware home.

"It all came together. I said all season when we play like that with confidence and togetherness I'd back us against anyone.

"We were confident and stuck to the game plan. To win 6-2 in a final ... I'm speechless.

"For me, playing in several finals for West Brom and then being on the side, it doesn't get more surreal.

"The girls were saying they'd been on the losing side of finals a couple of times, so I'm happy for them to experience it today.

"We'll have a little celebration over the next couple of days and really enjoy it."

Albion made wholesale changes from the side beaten 7-2 by Nottingham Forest in the final league clash of the season on Sunday, which saw hosts Forest crowned champions ahead of Wolves.

And Hodgetts-Still's selected worked a treat as Ali Miller lifted in a deft finish from Ella Haughey's cross for a deserved 26th-minute lead.

Phoebe Warner lit up the showpiece final with a stunning second 10 minutes before half-time. She latched on to Rhianne Oakley's pass and lobbed stranded goalkeeper Anna Pedersen from all of 30 yards.

Oakley shone on her way to player of the match and converted a well-worked third after a neat one-two with skipper Olivia Rabjohn.

Rugby pulled one back before the interval but the Baggies re-established the three-goal lead with Oakley's second as she coolly finished after lively work by Miller.

Borough made it 4-2 but Albion added some late gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time as substitute Marli Rhodes dispatched a free-kick into the bottom corner and fellow sub Simran Jhamat converted a penalty.

The late blast launched wild celebration for the side's first trophy since the FA WNL Plate in 2019. It it the first County Cup triumph in eight years.

"Performance-wise I thought we were excellent throughout," added the head coach, who became the club's first full-time head coach earlier this year. "We dominated the first half, picked up some good moments to press, counter-attacked really well.

"Our finishing was excellent. I don't think I could've asked for more from them. I'm really proud and really proud for them. They deserve that. It's been a long season, we've done really well and to bring the cup home is massively deserved.

"The players that came on did excellently and for the players that didn't there was a real togetherness."