Wolves Women progressed into the quarter finals of the Birmingham County Cup with a hard-fought victory at Boldmere St Michaels, where Dan McNamara’s side were forced to play with 10 players for more than half the game.
Amy Dicken gave the visitors a well-deserved lead after 36 minutes, but they were pegged back almost instantly when Jade Formaston levelled from the spot following a handball in the area which resulted in a straight red card for Beth Merrick.
However, the old gold rallied after the break and, despite being down to 10, re-gained the lead through Maz Gauntlett’s stunning free-kick before Anna Morphet scored from the spot four minutes from time to ensure a safe passage into the next round.
Wolves started brightly and created five openings inside the first 20 minutes. Merrick struck one just over the top of the bar, before a short Helen Dermody corner released Morphet whose rifled attempted was bravely defended by the hosts. Dicken then cut inside and could only shoot into the gloves of Hayleigh Sutton, but it was Gauntlett who had the best two opportunities.
She found herself free inside the area following a Jade Cross delivery, but was denied by the base of the post as the ball bounced agonisingly back out. Moments later, a ball over the top from Amber Hughes found the run of Gauntlett who hit a stinging effort which was well-saved by Sutton – Hughes then had to be replaced by Amy Hare after going down injured.
The away side had the ball in the back of the net when Merrick’s ball into the box was neatly nodded down by Dicken, but Gauntlett was judged to have been standing in an offside position as she acrobatically finished.
Substitute Hare was then denied by a last-ditch Jess Keeling challenge, before the pressure finally paid off when Dicken worked it well inside the 18-yard box to squeeze the ball out of her feet and roll her effort out of reach of Sutton.
Boldmere looked to respond immediately and nearly did so when Trina Greaves forced a fantastic fingertip save from Shan Turner in between the Wolves sticks. From the corner, a handball on the line resulted in both a penalty and red card for Merrick, with Formaston making no mistake from the spot despite Turner guessing right.
Half-time | Boldmere 1-1 Wolves
Ali Miller was introduced at half-time, with first half substitute Hare making way. And the change made an impact, with Miller’s runs in behind stretching the Boldmere backline.
But, it was a moment of magic that restored Wolves’ lead at Church Road. Gauntlett stepped up from some 25-yards out and hit a powerful free-kick which had venom and kissed the underside of the bar on its way into the back of the net.
Wolves coped well despite being a player light and were in control of proceedings, as they went in search of a third. Miller found space inside the area but her low drive was denied by the goalkeeper.
Her willingness to chase the ball and win a foot race then presented Dicken with a header inside the box, but the ball was fired in and she was unable to divert on target.
Despite being behind, Boldmere had the numeric advantage and were still in the tie. They created a couple of openings when Edwards shot wide via a deflection, before again finding herself in the thick of the action as her header was claimed by Turner.
Morphet looked the replicate Gauntlett’s earlier free-kick from a similar position and although her effort beat the wall, the ball didn’t quite dip in time.
Wolves were then presented with the opportunity to put the game beyond reach of Boldmere four minutes from time when Edwards handled inside the area. Morphet stepped up from 12 yards and coolly added a third to ensure progression into the final eight of the competition.
Full-time | Boldmere 1-3 Wolves
Boldmere | Sutton, Keeling (Highway 84), Scott, Kirk (Billingsley 74), Bickley, Formaston, Reynolds, Allen, Edwards, Wilson, Greaves.
Subs not used | Stokes, Phillips.
Wolves | Turner, Cooper (Holmes 67), Morphet, E. Cross, Gauntlett, J. Cross, Dermody, Hughes (Hare 25) (Miller 46), Dicken, Johnson, Merrick.
Subs not used | Taho, Sparkes.
