Boldmere 0 Wolves 2 (Roberts 4, 48)
A Beth Roberts brace ensured Wolves Women collected all three points at Boldmere St. Michaels and a sixth win on the spin in all competitions.
The left-back struck early on in each half, with both goals coming from a corner routine where Roberts made a nuisance of herself on the line, before turning the ball home from close range.
It took just four minutes for Wolves and Roberts to get off the mark in the pouring rain at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. Anna Morphet’s corner kick caused chaos in the centre as Anna Price got her head to the ball, before Roberts was able to turn and scoop into the net from her position on the line.
The old gold almost doubled their lead on the 25-minute mark as an inch-perfect through ball from Tammi George found the run of Beth Merrick who poked towards goal, but found the body of the on-rushing Jodie Whiteman there to thwart her. Moments later, it was George’s turn to test the gloves of the Boldmere stopper as a first-time attempt needed to be pushed away from danger.
And the goalkeeper was again called into action shortly after as she denied Merrick whose strike, which had movement and dip, bounced just in front of Whiteman who did well to palm the ball around the post.
Dan McNamara’s side were eager to capitalise on their dominance and double their advantage before the break, but Helen Dermody’s volley from the edge didn’t quite dip in time as the ball landed on the roof of the net.
Half-time | Boldmere 0-1 Wolves
Just like the opening 45, Wolves made a quick start to the second period and found themselves two goals to the good just three minutes after the restart. And it came from the unlikely source of Roberts once again, in almost a carbon copy of the first goal. Price had two bites at heading towards goal from Morphet’s in-swinging corner, with the second on its way in, before Roberts made sure on the line by poking home under pressure from a couple of desperate Boldmere attempts at clearing.
Morphet’s left boot proved to be a dangerous weapon throughout the evening and she saw an attempt of her own well-saved by Whiteman, who punched away a free-kick before George fired back in and was denied by a goal line clearance.
In their search of a third, Wolves were frustrated time after time by Whiteman who proved a tricky customer to beat. Merrick again looked to sneak an effort into the near post, but her driven attempt was tipped around for a corner by Whiteman. The lively Jade Cross then broke the offside trap after latching onto a Destiney Toussaint pass and went across goal with her strike, which lacked power and Whiteman was able to hold.
The visitors thought they’d sealed it with a third goal in stoppage time as Roberts won the ball back on halfway before releasing George. She drove through the centre and found substitute Amy Dicken before neatly threading the ball into the path of Merrick who curled into the far corner, but saw her celebrations halted by the offside flag, as Wolves were made to settle for two.
Full-time | Boldmere 0-2 Wolves
REACTION
“I thought we were fantastic tonight,” McNamara said. “It was a really professional performance in difficult conditions. This is a tough place to come anyway, especially when they’re fighting relegation and fighting for their lives.
“We knew it was going to be tough today. The rain’s coming down and the wind’s howling, but I thought the girls dealt with the occasion fantastically.
“First half was really professional and we controlled large parts of it. We knew that if we could get in with a clean sheet, we were always going to create something at the other end and we did that - Beth Roberts popping up with her second for the club.
“It was about keeping the pressure on, not allowing them to build into the game. They’ve got real threats. We know all about Leo (Joyce) and I thought she had some nice moments throughout the game, but we controlled what they did really well and that really pleased me.
“We nullified everything they tried to do and carried on creating chances at the other end of the pitch. On a different day, we may have had a couple more but we’re happy with the three points and we just want to keep pushing on and putting that pressure on the top of the table.”
On not scoring more goals
“If we’re being a little bit negative then it’s probably the clinical edge of the group. We spoke about it all season – that’s probably why we’re in the position that we’re in at the minute, because we haven’t been clinical enough.
“I know the girls are disappointed. They felt that we probably could’ve had a couple more on the board today, but it’s a tough place to come and especially in these conditions where we’re chasing at one end and Boldmere are fighting for their lives.
“Overall, it’s a fantastic result for us, I’m really pleased to get out of here with three points and six from six heading into the weekend is real credit to the girls.”
On scoring from set-pieces
“The credit’s got to go to Hugh (McCluskie) for the set-piece stuff. He’s been working tirelessly over the last few months with that and it’s coming to fruition now.
“We’re seeing a real clinical edge from those set-pieces. It’s just that open play that we need to get better at now.
“Even defending them, we look a lot better. Great structure, really strong and brave when we are defending the set-pieces, so that’s fantastic.”
On Beth Roberts scoring twice
“It’s really good to see Robbo get another couple of goals, she’ll be really pleased with that. What a fantastic signing she’s been over the last few months and we’re looking for her to keep kicking on now.
“She’s been brilliant and deserves those goals tonight. I’m really pleased for her.”
On still being in the hunt for the title
“At the start of the season if you’ve said with three to play we’d still be in the mix and still be able to catch Forest, I’d have snapped your hand off.
“What this group have done over the last few years is remarkable, with the consistency they’ve shown.
“It’s tough because we can’t compete in certain aspects of what the Forest’s and the Burnley’s are doing. We’re clubbing together and we’re driving the standards, training hard and using all the great things that we do have to get the maximum out of the girls.
“I’m really proud of them to even be in this position at the minute. We’re still in the mix and still in the hunt, and that’s credit to the girls. They’re a remarkable group and we’ve obviously got a great cup final to look forward to as well.”
NEXT FOUR
16/04/23 Derby County (H)
23/04/23 Burnley (A)
30/04/23 Brighouse (A)
County Cup final (TBC)
TEAMS
Boldmere | Whiteman, Sutton, Reynolds (Phillips 31), Sherrell (Keeling 80), Kirk, Bickley (Greaves 71), Grove, Billingsley, Wilcox, Joyce, Miles.
Subs not used | Scott.
Wolves | Turner, Cooper, Morphet, Price (Elsmore 90+4), E. Cross, George, J. Cross (Miller 75), Dermody (Johnson 75), Toussaint (Dicken 87), Roberts, Merrick.
Subs not used | Bedeau.
