A first-half of missed opportunities was corrected in the latter 45 minutes by Wolves, as second-half goals from Amber Hughes, Destiney Toussaint and a Katie Johnson brace led the old gold to a comfortable 4-0 win on Wolves’ first outing at the New Bucks Head.
Wolves quickly settled into their new surroundings, with summer signing Toussaint particularly lively, so it was no surprise she created the first chance of the game. Finding space, not for the first time down the right, she drilled a low cross in, which Hughes met and flicked goalward, but she saw her effort rebound off the post. Anticipating well, Beth Merrick charged on the loose ball and fired at Madeline Walsh in goal, but the goalkeeper did well to clear her lines, smothering Merrick’s shot.
Merrick would soon turn provider as she curled in a delightful ball towards early substitute Jade Cross in the centre of the area, but unmarked, she struck a first-time volley which lacked power, allowing Walsh to calmly collect the ball.
Having swapped wings with Toussaint, Merrick tried her luck once more by curling in a right-footed cross into the area. Hughes met the pass and once again struck a first-time effort goalward but to Wolves’ misfortune her shot trickled wide of the post.
Wolves reaped the rewards of bombarding the Loughborough goal however and opened the scoring ten minutes from the break. Merrick delivered yet another inviting cross toward the back post where Toussaint was open to nod the pass on, and after wrestling free at the back post, Johnson flicked the ball past Walsh to break the deadlock and bag her second goal of the week.
Dan McNamara’s side pushed for a second but were denied by a triple save from Walsh. Toussaint read the play well to dispossess the Loughborough defence in their own area and lashed a shot on goal. Walsh parried to the feet of Hughes who rifled an effort right at the goalkeeper. Once again, the ball rebounded and this time Cross had a go at goal but was denied by a diving Walsh.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 Loughborough Lightning
Wolves started the second-half as they finished the first and within the first two minutes had won themselves a corner. Anna Morphet delivered a low cross which evaded the Loughborough defence and gave Johnson a tap in, and her second goal of the afternoon.
The visitors came close to reducing the deficit when a corner fell to the feet of Sophia Bonser who slashed a shot from close range over the bar. Momentum mounted from there, and Loughborough grew in confidence. Nicola Russell tried her luck from inside the area after receiving a driven pass from the left, but her right-footed shot fizzed the wrong side of the post.
Hughes was quick to squash all hope for Loughborough as she capitalised on a mistake from Walsh. Reacting well, she pounced on a slipped save and curled a shot neatly around the goalkeeper for Wolves’ third of the afternoon.
After missed chances in the first-half, Wolves began to make up for lost time and Toussaint was next to add her name to the scoresheet, chasing a through pass, she worked the ball over an onrushing Walsh and passed it into an open net to round off a successful afternoon for Wolves.
Full-time | Wolves 4-0 Loughborough Lightning
REACTION
After the match, head coach Dan McNamara admitted it wasn’t his side’s finest display but considering the hectic schedule, he was delighted with the three points.
“We’re delighted with the three points. It was one of those games where we wanted to come away with a clean sheet and no injuries and obviously plenty of goals. I don’t think it was our finest display, I think we lacked quality in certain parts, and we could’ve taken advantage of the score line but at the end of the day it’s three points and we take it and move on.”
On Toussaint’s performance
“She’s a fantastic player, I think it doesn’t matter where we play her or who we play against she’s got that real quality to shine. Every time she picked up the ball today the crowd were on the edge of their seats, she’s that kind of player. We’re delighted to be working with her, she got her goal again today and she’ll be delighted with that.”
On set pieces causing their opposition trouble
“We’ve worked hard on them over the last few years and we’re starting to see the rewards. Credit to Hugh who’s been taking a lot of time on the set pieces. But when you have people with Katie’s [Johnson] desire you’re always going to create chances and her finishing was fantastic again today. She deserved her two goals and we’re really pleased.”
On Skye Owen making her senior debut
“I think Skye is one of the youngest players to represent us at the club on a competitive level and she deserves that. She played with a smile on her face, and she was absolutely delighted. The appearance was given off reward, she’s been excelling at the RTC over the last few years, and she’s come into women’s football and really taken to it. She’s going to be a very bright player and now it’s about keep working hard and she’s got to push on now and get in the team more regularly.”
On Becky Thomas keeping another clean sheet
“She knew she would get an opportunity with Shan [Turner] being away this week. She’s taken that really well. She made a couple of good saves at Stoke and the distribute she’s made are first class. She’s outstanding with the ball at her feet, and we’ve seen today just how good she can be and help up in the build-up phase.”
COMING UP
Wolves Women travel to Northampton next week to compete in the Women’s National League Cup and McNamara is insistent his side will go for every trophy this season, he said: “First and foremost we’ve got to close this week off. It’s been tiring, the girls are tired the staff are tired so we’re probably going to need to switch off for a couple of days it’s been a ridiculous schedule over the last seven days so delighted to come out of it with the return we have.
“We challenged the girls to come away with six points from nine and we’ve come away with nine from nine. We’ve got a bit of a break then we’ll be ready to go with Northampton. We want to go deep in all competitions, so we won’t be taking that lightly. We’ll go down there and give a good account of ourselves, and we look forward to seeing what it will bring.”
TEAMS
Wolves | Thomas, Cooper, Morphet, E. Cross, George, Gauntlett (J. Cross 6), Dermody (Bennet-Steele 64), Hughes (Price 64), Johnson (Darby 72), Toussaint, Merrick (Owen 72).
Loughborough | Walsh, Gunn, Sharpe, Walters, Hateley, Steele, Russell (Renken 72), Young, Robinson (Richardson 83), Bonser (Middleton 62), Stevens (Powell 83).
Unused sub: Greenwood
By Tom Alston
