A spirited second-half fight-back was not enough to prevent Everton Ladies from suffering their second defeat of the season on Sunday.
Birmingham won the game through first-half goals by England striker Ellen White and winger Charlie Wellings.
Chloe Kelly reduced the arrears straight after the break and the Blue Girls pressed for much of the second half.
But, despite creating several chances, they were unable to grab an equaliser.
A team showing three changes from last week’s local derby defeat by Liverpool at least gave cause for encouragement on their return to the top flight.
Right-back Faye Bryson, left winger Kelly and striker Simone Magill came in, with Siri Worm, Claudia Walker and Mollie Green dropped to the subs’ bench.
There was also a change of formation, manager Andy Spence switching from 4-3-3 to 4-4-1-1, with Magill playing just behind Courtney Sweetman-Kirk in attack.
Sweetman-Kirk was quickly into the action, chasing a third-minute throughball but getting crowded out by two Birmingham defenders.
As the home side responded, White headed a sixth-minute Hayley Ladd corner over the bar.
But the striker made no mistake eight minutes later, forcing the ball home from close range following a Paige Williams corner.
The lead might have been doubled in the 24th minute but, from midfielder Andrine Hegerberg’s 20-yard strike, goalkeeper Lizzie Durack made a spectacular flying save.
The Blue Girls hit back immediately, captain Dan Turner racing down the left flank but sending a cross just out of the reach of Sweetman-Kirk.
Birmingham still held the upper hand, however, and they went further in front when Wellings swept in a 10-yard shot from White’s 32nd-minute cross.
Everton’s attacking efforts were being cancelled out, though 10 minutes before the interval Sweetman-Kirk was denied as goalkeeper Ann Katrin Berger dashed off her line to prevent the striker from shooting.
A half-time substitution saw striker Walker taking over from winger Marthe Munsterman and a tweak of formation as Sweetman-Kirk dropped deeper.
And the move paid instant dividends, Sweetman-Kirk providing the pass for Kelly to hook home a 12-yard shot that reduced the deficit within seconds of the restart.
That visibly lifted Everton, who began to enjoy far more possession than they had had before the break.
A second substitution came in the 65th minute, winger Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah taking over from Kelly.
And 60 seconds later a second goal almost arrived, Sweetman-Kirk driving through from midfield but seeing her angled shot expertly saved by substitute keeper Fran Stenson.
Boye-Hlorkah, impressing wide on the left, saw a 20-yard lob land on the roof of the net as the Everton pressure built.
And, three minutes from time, Stenson kept out a Magill shot that proved the Blue Girls’ last chance to earn themselves what would have been a deserved point.
Bookings: Brougham 87
Referee: Mr D. Middleton
Attendance: 821
