Wolves 8 (Hughes 11, 38, Toussaint 34, 53, Greengrass 45, Merrick 48, Denham 59, J. Cross 61) Sporting Khalsa 1 (Smith 73)
Wolves Women progressed through to the third round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup after a resounding victory against Sporting Khalsa Women on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides had previously met in the league earlier this season as Wolves ran out 5-2 winners, with a spot in the next round of the FA Cup up for grabs this time around.
Dan McNamara made just one change to his side that convincingly triumphed over Coventry Sphinx 16-0 last time out, as Katie Johnson replaced Hannah Fryer in defence.
It took just 11 minutes for the home side to open the scoring. Becky Anderson played a defence-splitting through ball that was deflected into Amber Hughes’ path as she ran through on goal and cooly finished in off the post into the bottom left corner.
Wolves faced no shortage of chances with sufficient dominance forced on the away side and most action taking place in the Khalsa half early on.
Hughes went close to her second after Tammi George drove through the midfield and laid the ball off to Charlotte Greengrass, before she worked it well into the path of Hughes who struck the post with a strong effort outside the penalty area.
Destiney Toussaint soon claimed the second goal of the game in the 35th minute as she met Anna Morphet’s deep delivery from a corner to head home, despite Khalsa’s best defensive efforts to keep the ball out.
The lead was extended just three minutes later thanks to Hughes scoring her second of the game. Toussaint was played down the right flank and into the penalty area, her effort stung the palms of Elise Stocking in the Khalsa net, but the ball fortunately fell to Hughes who tapped into an empty net.
45 minutes had gone, and the scoring reached four as Hughes turned provider on this occasion to find Greengrass unmarked in the penalty area, before she controlled and rifled home in off the crossbar to send Wolves into the break four goals to the good.
Half-time | Wolves 4-0 Sporting Khalsa
The second half proceeded and Wolves continued the rout when George was fouled outside the penalty area, allowing Merrick to step up and bend her free-kick past Stocking in the away net.
Toussaint soon doubled her scoring for the afternoon as she ran onto a Hughes cross-field through ball, leaving her through on goal to neatly finish beneath Stocking.
Ania Denham and Jade Cross both had instant impact from the bench as they both found the back of the net; Denham scored in the 59th minute with an acrobatic effort, before Cross made it eight just two minutes later with a low driven shot into the bottom right corner.
Khalsa continued to fight and earnt themselves a penalty in the 75th minute – converted by Laura Smith – to give the away side nothing more than a consolation goal.
Anderson stepped up for another close-range free-kick for Wolves with just over 10 minutes remaining, however her excellent effort was turned over by Stocking, preventing a second free-kick goal of the afternoon.
The game slowly came to a close as Wolves managed possession well and ran down the stopwatch to put themselves into the third round of the FA Cup where they will meet Shrewsbury Town at home on Sunday 8th December.
Full-time | Wolves 8-1 Sporting Khalsa
LINE UPS
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, George (Hiscox 68), Hughes, Greengrass (Denham 58), Johnson, Anderson, Toussaint (J. Cross 58), Roberts (Smith 58), Merrick (Loydon 68), Jenner.
Subs not used | Quigley, Fryer.
Sporting Khalsa | Stocking, Green (Wright 65), Thompson-Moulding, Smith, Cann, Brett (Philpot 68), Kennerley, Walker (Shore 65), Winters, Russell-Cartwright (Davies 53), Acton.
NEXT FIVE
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08/12/2024 Shrewsbury Town (H) Adobe Women’s FA Cup
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12/01/2025 Burnley (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
Report by Callum Greybanks
