Sporting Khalsa 2 (Cann 8, Redding 59) Wolves Women 5 (Hughes 22, 29, George 30, Merrick 62, Morphet pen 85)
Wolves Women hit five away at Sporting Khalsa on Wednesday night, with Amber Hughes continuing her red-hot form in front of goal.
Dan McNamara’s team extended their recent unbeaten run to four games after they skipped past local rivals Khalsa at the Guardian Warehousing Arena, as goals from Hughes (2), Tammi George, Beth Merrick and Anna Morphet guided the Old Gold to victory in smooth fashion.
Against the run of play, the home side took an early lead from a set piece, as a looping ball found the head of Megan Cann who nodded past the on-rushing Bec Thomas inside the opening 10 minutes.
Wolves continued to fight back and were inches away from an equaliser in the 18th minute when Charlotte Greengrass’ strike on the turn forced Freya Heap into a stunning save.
Hughes then got her eighth goal of the season to level just four minutes later. Destiney Toussaint’s low cross found Hughes free inside the area, before the striker swivelled and found the bottom corner as she has several times this season.
Wolves turned the game around when they scored two goals in quick succession. Beth Roberts’ ball was perfect for Hughes to tap home inside the area, while George’s long-distance effort doubled the Old Gold’s lead just one minute later.
Tammi with our third 🐺 pic.twitter.com/0c1BSf7Clh
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) September 25, 2024
Half-time | Sporting Khalsa 1-3 Wolves Women
After the interval, Wolves showed their game management and were unlucky to concede a second when a Sporting Khalsa set-piece fell to Izzy Redding and her deflected attempt reduced the lead to one goal.
Merrick was back in the action to restore Wolves’ two-goal advantage, after Hughes successfully beat her opponent and a deep cross found Merrick at the back post and her curled effort nestled into the back of the net.
In the 84th minute, substitute Ania Denham’s work inside the area earned Wolves a penalty, which Morphet comfortably converted to seal all three points ahead of returning home to face AFC Fylde in the FAWNL Plate this Sunday.
Full-time | Sporting Khalsa 2-5 Wolves Women
Derby victory under the lights 💡 pic.twitter.com/b2HZnl4kXr
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) September 26, 2024
LINE UPS
Sporting Khalsa | Heap, Thompson-Moulding, Smith, Cann (Szymkowiak 60), Deasy (Deaville 67), Kennerly, Walker (Davies 82), Brett (Green 78), Russel-Cartwright, Redding, Acton.
Subs not used | Stocking, Philpot.
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, George (Loydon 70), Hughes (J. Cross 80), Greengrass, Banaras (Quigley 80), Johnson, Fryer, Toussaint (Denham 80), Roberts (Anderson 55), Merrick.
Subs not used | Clarke, E. Cross.
NEXT FIVE
29/09/2024 AFC Fylde (H) FAWNL Plate
06/10/2024 Rugby Borough (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
13/10/2024 West Bromwich Albion (HA) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
27/10/2024 Halifax (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
10/11/2024 Liverpool Feds (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
Report by Thomas Gibson
