Solihull Moors Ladies 0
Wolves Women 3 (J Cross 3 & 57, George 40)
Report by George Coombes, photograph by Simon Faulkner.
A brace from Jade Cross and a fine finish from Tammi George was enough to seal the points against a depleted Solihull Moors.
Wolves got off to the perfect start as Cross opened the scoring within five minutes, calmly slotting home on the volley from Chloe Williams’ through ball.
Having control of the game throughout, a host of chances fell Wolves’ way as they looked to assert their dominance on the score-line. However, Sam Abbott in the Solihull goal stood firm, making several fine saves.
Shortly before the interval, George eventually netted Wolves’ deserved second – a fine looped-finish enough to beat the goalkeeper to give the visitors a two-goal lead going into the half-time break.
It was much of the same story in the second period. Cross believed she had her second of the game when finishing past Abbott, but she was made to wait after her effort was ruled out for offside, before substitute Charlotte Criddle also came close with a header which came back off the post.
The pair combined well to eventually net Wolves’ third however. Criddle’s fine ball over the top of Solihull’s backline found Cross through on goal, and on this occasion her goal stood as she poked the ball past Abbott.
A well-worked set-piece almost led to Wolves’ fourth, with Billie Haynes’ attempt unlucky, as her left-footed strike smashed the crossbar.
Substitute Jen Anslow’s free header from a corner was sent over in the dying minutes as Wolves had to settle for three.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
George’s brilliant lobbed finish to score Wolves’ crucial second goal was the highlight. Coming just before the interval, the fine finish was vital to ensure Wolves had one hand on the game going into the second half.
QUOTES
Manager Dan McNamara was pleased with the victory but saw much to improve on regarding his team’s performance.
He said: “It was a clean sheet and we got the three points which is important, however I thought we were below-par.
“We dominated the game as you’d expect, they made it really difficult for us with ten men behind the ball defending for their lives so credit to Solihull.
“We lacked a bit of quality in certain areas of the field but we turned up on a not-so-great pitch and we got the three points, so we take the positives.”
COMING UP
Wolves Women now face a top-of-the-table clash against local rivals West Bromwich Albion Women on Sunday 27th January, at Boldmere St Michael’s FC, in Sutton Coldfield, from 2pm.
NEXT FIVE
- 27/01 - West Bromwich Albion Women (A)
- 03/02 - Birmingham & West Midlands Ladies (H)
- 17/02 - Burton (H)
- 27/02 - Sporting Khalsa (H)
- 10/03 - Nettleham (A)
TEAMS
Solihull Moors Ladies | Abbott, Scott, Sharp, Stubie, Redmond, Taylor, Harmison, Kirk, Hunt, Douglas.
Wolves | Clarke, Widdal, E Cross, Butler, Morphet (Anslow), Jones, Williams (Walker), George (Criddle), Haynes, J Cross, Barnett.
Subs | Price, Wilkie.
