Steel City Wanderers Ladies 1
Wolves Women 5 (Quick 1, 15,38; J.Cross 22,53)
Wolves Women continued their pursuit of promotion with an impressive 5-1 away victory over Steel City Wanderers at Sheffield’s St. George’s Park.
Needing three wins from their final three games, Wolves got off to the best possible start with a goal in the first minute as Jade Cross set up Amber Quick whose shot beat the keeper.
Wolves kept up the pressure with a corner from Jen Anslow in the seventh minute which was saved by the keeper, and another Anslow cross two minutes later which found Quick, but her shot was saved.
The shots kept coming, with another well-taken corner from Anslow cleared by Steel City and a shot from captain Anna Perks going just over the bar.
Finally in the 15th minute a repeat of the first goal saw Jade Cross find Quick, who converted to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Steel City’s first effort on goal came in the 20th minute but was easily dealt with by Sophie Glenny in the Wolves goal.
Wolves went straight back onto the attack and Anslow’s through ball this time found Jade Cross who finished in style for Wolves’ third.
The chances kept coming and Quick completed her hat trick in the 38th minute with yet another ball from Anslow to make it 4-0.
With half time approaching play was held up for an injury to Wolves defender Vicky Brackenbury who was forced off for treatment, with Laura McQuilkin taking her place. The resulting free-kick saw Steel City grab a goal back on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw an early chance for Steel City, catching Wolves on the break in the 49th minute, but the shot was wide of the post.
Wolves struck back with their fifth goal in the 53rd minute, this time Laura McQuilkin the provider for Jade Cross’s second.
There were more chances for Wolves, with Jade Cross, Natalie Widdal and Andrea Whetton all coming close before a header from Perks hit the upright in the 65th minute.
With another match to play on Thursday, manager Tim Dudding brought on some fresh legs, and Wolves continued to press, with chances coming right up to the final whistle as Anslow’s free-kick from 90th minute sent the ball crashing off the crossbar.
Dudding said: “It was another brilliant performance today. I thought we were so clinical in everything we did – with three goals from our first three shots on target.
“To be 4-0 up and controlling the game was a great place for us to be, and it’s something we’ve failed to do in so many other games this season.
“We were a bit disappointed to concede a goal before half time but we came out in the second half ready to go again.
“I thought Amber Quick was phenomenal today scoring her hat trick. She’s really come into her own in the last few games and it’s a pleasure to see her play so well.
“The whole team dug deep and that’s why we came away head and shoulders above Steel City today.”
*With only one team promoted the result leaves Wolves just one point behind title rivals Loughborough Foxes with a game in hand. Wins in their final two games away at Loughborough Students on Thursday and at Leicester City Ladies on Sunday would see them clinch the title.
TEAM: Glenny, Hakeman (Hewitt), Anslow, Perks, Brackenbury (McQuilkin), Widdal, Whetton (Bragan), Butl
