Rugby Borough 1 (Nixon 45) Wolves 1 (Merrick 75)
Wolves Women earnt themselves a hard-fought point away at Rugby Borough on Sunday afternoon to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 11 games.
After conceding on the stroke of half-time, Wolves found a way back into the game through Beth Merrick’s superb second-half strike.
The high-tempo of a well-fought first-half was set from the outset and Wolves enjoyed a flurry of early chances to take the lead. First, Destiney Toussaint drifted down the right flank and delivered into the box, Rugby’s defence failed to deal with the ball, but Amber Hughes’ volleyed effort looped over the crossbar.
Moments later, Charlotte Greengrass did well to meet Anna Morphet’s delivery from a free-kick but her header failed to hit the target.
Wolves were utilising both flanks with Toussaint involved prior, this time Beth Roberts advanced toward the Rugby penalty area and delivered a cross aimed for Merrick. Merrick would have thought it was an easy finish to convert, however a block from Georgia Robert diverted the ball out for a corner.
Angelina Nixon was Rugby’s key threat throughout the afternoon as she was central to most of the home side’s good opportunities. Nixon gained a yard on Katie Johnson on the left side of the penalty area and played a cut-back to Katy Morris, but a block from Tammi George prevented bringing Bec Thomas into action.
The visitors would eventually rue their early opportunities when the home side broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. Nixon was involved again as she cut inside, onto her right foot, and fired goalwards. The ball took an unfortunate deflection and flew past Thomas into the net.
Half-time | Rugby 1-0 Wolves
Wolves opened the second half looking more likely to score the second of the game, but it was Rugby who had the chance to do so first. Ebony Wiseman got free and rushed toward Wolves’ penalty box, she looked up to pick out an onrushing Yasmin Mosby, but Thomas got down well to deny the effort.
Frustration started to grow as the game surpassed the hour mark, and the final pass proved to be Wolves’ downfall. On several occasions McNamara’s side did well to advance into dangerous areas, but the Rugby defence refused to unlock.
Wolves, though, found a higher gear and were now in control of the contest with chances accumulating. Greengrass went close again after she met a Morphet free-kick, but not as close as Merrick moments later.
Momentum totally shifted and the away side found their desired leveller. Hughes headed down a long ball into the path of Merrick, she took the ball into her stride, and from outside the penalty area, struck a bouncing ball perfectly into the top corner.
The pressure from Wolves continued to mount and they went close to a lead through Hughes. Johnson looked up from the right flank and delivered into the danger zone, Hughes connected with the cross, but her glancing effort was kept out well by Nyia Peterkin.
Despite the late pressure, Wolves failed to find a winner. They earnt themselves a hard-fought point away from home with an FA Cup fifth round fixture versus Manchester United awaiting.
Full-time | Rugby 1-1 Wolves
LINEUPS
Rugby | Peterkin, Mann, S. Morris (Barton 87), Nixon, Wiseman (Greenslade 89), Brown, Shaw (Wood 80), K. Morris, Robert, Mosby, Roberts.
Subs not used | Moncaster, Upson, Camwell, Wallace.
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, George, Hughes, Greengrass, Johnson, Anderson, Toussaint (Quigley 85), Roberts (Smith 85), Jenner, Merrick.
Subs not used | Clarke, Simkin, J. Cross, Loydon, Fryer.
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Report by Callum Greybanks
