Wolves 1 (Greengrass 52) Stoke 3 (Ravening 68, 72 pen, Cole 80)
Wolves Women were beaten by Stoke City in the determining round of the FAWNL Cup on Wednesday evening, meaning they will compete for the FAWNL Plate in the 2024/2025 season.
Dan McNamara made four changes to his side that beat Derby County in their previous game and hoped to repeat the same feat with a slightly rotated squad.
Neither side could start the game on the front-foot with no shots in the opening 15 minutes, however just minutes later it was the visitors who threatened first after Tamara Wilcox struck the first shot of the game just wide of the post.
Bec Thomas was Wolves’ inspiration inside the first 20 minutes with two saves in two minutes, firstly from an Erin Nelson strike and secondly from Wilcox’s header that was tipped round the post.
The hosts began to grow into the game as Jade Cross went close when she met Anna Morphet’s cross from the left-hand side, but her shot was saved by Liz Hobson in the away net.
The final action of the half came through Ania Denham as Hannah Fryer’s cross into the box fell kindly for the number 20 but her effort was directed straight at Hobson which brought the half to a close.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Stoke
The visitors started the second half the better side, but it was Charlotte Greengrass who opened the scoring in the 52nd minute. Fryer superbly kept Morphet’s cross alive at the back post which was met by the head of Greengrass to put Wolves ahead.
However, Wolves were reduced to 10 players just five minutes later when Abi Loydon was shown a second yellow card.
The momentum started to swing in the visitors’ favour as Millie Ravening scored twice in just four minutes. First, a sublime free-kick was followed by a penalty that put Stoke ahead with just over 15 minutes left to play.
It would prove to be a tough evening for the home side as Delphi Cole doubled the away side’s lead in the 84th minute.
McNamara’s team fought well, but it was not quite enough to fend off their opponents who took advantage of the extra player.
Wolves look ahead to another game this week as they will face Nottingham Forest at home on Sunday, to try and maintain their 100% record in the league.
Full-time | Wolves 1-3 Stoke
LINE UPS
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, Holmes (Anderson 46), J. Cross, Loydon, Greengrass (Johnson 85), MacPhail (E. Cross 41), Fryer, Denham, Roberts (Jenner 54), Smith.
Subs not used | Elbro, George, Toussaint.
Stoke | Hobson, Thompson, Reavill, Cook (Suttie 81), Kivel, Holder, Watson (Higginbottom 81), Ravening, Nelson (Stamps 66), Cole (Priestly 87), Wilcock (Molinari 66).
Subs not used | Bracewell, Tudor.
1/09/2024 Nottingham Forest (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
8/09/2024 Burnley (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
15/09/2024 Hull City (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
22/09/2024 Stoke City (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
25/09/2024 Sporting Khalsa (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
Report by Callum Greybanks
