Liverpool Feds 1 (Thompson 72) Wolves 2 (Hughes 62, Quigley 90+5)
Wolves Women extended their lead at the top of the table in dramatic style against Liverpool Feds on Sunday.
In what was a tough fixture for Wolves in the North West, a last-gasp Racheal Quigley header enabled the visitors to earn all three points on the road after Amber Hughes had opened the scoring earlier in the game.
Dan McNamara made six changes from the team who played in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup against Asfordy Amateurs last weekend, with midfielder Tammi George making her 150th appearance in Old Gold.
The contest was very open in the first 15 minutes, with both sides sharing possession of the ball but neither having any clear-cut chances.
Katie Johnson’s inch-perfect pass gave Beth Merrick a golden opportunity to put the league leaders ahead, but her close-range effort was denied by Rachael Norney who palmed the ball away.
Wolves were put under pressure by the home side for some time and came close to going ahead when a looped cross found Emma Johnson, but her effort did not test Bec Thomas from inside the area.
The game was tight and the scoreline reflected that with neither team going ahead, yet both sides had key chances and exchanged possession of the ball in different periods.
Half-time | Liverpool Feds 0-0 Wolves Women
Immediately after the interval, Wolves looked to advance and Destiney Toussaint’s sliding effort on goal was met by Norney, who did well to deny the attempt.
Thomas produced a fantastic save to keep the score level in the 52nd minute, as Donoghue was played in on goal with a ball over the top of the Old Gold defence, but it was Wolves’ number 13 who was successful in the one-on-one when she denied the forward.
Wolves were under pressure and Alesha Collins struck the post of Thomas’ goal just a few minutes later, but the away side had the perfect response.
McNamara’s side opened the scoring following an Anna Morphet set-piece and after a scramble inside the area, Amber Hughes was in position to stab the ball in from close-range.
The home side responded almost instantly, as Chantelle Thompson’s clever turn allowed her a yard of space and she picked out the bottom left corner to bring the score back level once again.
Wolves hunted for a winner and came close but to their annoyance, Toussaint’s headed effort in the 79th minute was denied by Norney once again.
The away side left it late, but eventually found the goal that they needed in the fifth minute of added time. Hughes turned from goal scorer to provider, as she advanced on the right-hand side and her cross was perfect for substitute Quigley who nodded the ball home in the final seconds and earned Wolves all three points in the North West.
Full-time | Liverpool Feds 1-2 Wolves Women
TEAMS
Liverpool Feds | Norney, Kinvig-Wardale, Johnson, Carrington, Jukes, Thompson, Parry, Deering (Boydell), Anderson (Francis), Collins (Smith 90), Donoghue (Willis 61).
Subs not used | Doran, Cole, Davies.
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, George, Hughes, Greengrass, Johnson, Anderson (J. Cross 75), Toussaint, Roberts (Quigley 75), Jenner, Merrick.
Subs not used | Clarke, Loydon, Banaras, Fryer, Denham.
NEXT FIVE
17/11/2024 Coventry Sphinx (A) Birmingham Challenge Cup
24/11/2024 Sporting Khalsa (H) Adobe Women’s FA Cup
15/12/2024 Derby (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
05/01/2025 Nottingham Forest (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
12/01/2025 Burnley (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
By Thomas Gibson
