Wolves 4 (own goal 27, Hughes 33, 67, Merrick 69) Hull City 0
Goals from Amber Hughes and Beth Merrick on top of an early own goal gave Wolves Women a comfortable home victory over Hull City Ladies on Sunday afternoon.
Wolves returned to the SEAH Stadium after a huge victory on the road at Turf Moor last time out as they looked to make it four wins in five league games.
Dan McNamara named an unchanged starting 11 for the first time this season in hope to replicate the good fortune last time out.
The game began in a slow manner, but it was the hosts on top as Tammi George went close on two early occasions but failed to hit the target with both efforts.
The home side took control of the game as Beth Roberts played further up the pitch alongside her attacking colleagues and it worked well, with Wolves controlling the ball from defence through to attack.
It took 27 minutes for Wolves to open the scoring and it was a well-worked set-piece that unlocked the visitors’ defence. Merrick received Anna Morphet’s short free-kick on the edge of the box and she played a first-time pass round the corner to Becky Anderson as her low cross was turned home by a Hull defender.
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) September 15, 2024
Wolves doubled their lead just five minutes later through Hughes. Merrick’s cross from the left-hand side was met by the number 11 who headed home at the back post – a well-earned goal after a superb first half performance from the forward.
Half-time | Wolves 2-0 Hull City
The second half started in similar fashion to the first until 10 minutes in when Hope Knight went through on goal for the visitors, but her effort was saved by a superb hand down low from Bec Thomas in the home net.
Charlotte Greengrass thought she had made it three in the 66th minute until the goal was ruled out for offside, however that was followed by a legitimate third just two minutes later from Hughes as she headed home Katie Johnson’s cross to score her second of the game.
The dominance continued just two minutes later when Merrick scored her first goal since returning to the club. The winger went one-on-one with Abigail Wallace in the away net and cooly finished past the goalkeeper.
The game slowly fizzled out with minimal threat from the away side in the final 20 minutes thanks to an excellent defensive display from Wolves.
A superb display from McNamara’s side saw them comfortably win 4-0 and make it back-to-back clean sheets as well four wins from five league games.
Full-time | Wolves 4-0 Hull
Team 🫶 pic.twitter.com/PVdZuEET5e
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) September 15, 2024
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Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, George, Hughes (Denham 80), Greengrass (J. Cross 80), Johnson, Anderson (Loydon 73) , Toussaint (Smith 64), Roberts, Jenner, Merrick (Banaras 73).
Subs not used | Elbro, Fryer.
Hull | Wallace, Hamill, Oxley (Green 46), Tanser, Ackroyd, Hunt, Dawson, Lynskey, Brookes (Abbott 88), Sugden-Brook (Rosie Caley 88), Knight.
Subs not used | Wattam, Harness.
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Report by Callum Greybanks
