Wolves 3 (Morphet 5, 43, Hughes 84) Stoke City 0
Wolves Women advanced past Stoke City at the SEAH Stadium on Sunday to move level on points with leaders Nottingham Forest.
Dan McNamara’s side extended their unbeaten league run to 14 games after Anna Morphet’s double and Amber Hughes’ goal against the Potters.
Wolves skipper Morphet led by example in the early exchanges, as her ambitious set-piece was one of a kind from distance as it found the top corner to give the Old Gold an early lead.
The hosts continued to break down the barriers and Beth Merrick was next in line to test Lauren Bracewell, but the Stoke City goalkeeper did well to deny her attempt.
The momentum was in favour of McNamara’s side and having a heavy amount of possession allowed Wolves to work down both flanks with Katie Johnson and Morphet having a lot of the ball.
Morphet secured her second goal of the afternoon in unique fashion moments before half-time.
For the second time this season, Morphet scored directly from a corner when her effort was whipped in with severe pace - it proved to be too much for Bracewell when her effort lobbed the number one and doubled Wolves’ advantage.
Half-time | Wolves 2-0 Stoke City
Once play had restarted, Wolves’ defensive duties were tested and Roison Kivel shook the crossbar but failed to cut into the home side’s advantage.
Hughes’ ambitious effort also rebounded off the frame of the goal as the Old Gold searched for a cushion.
After a very stop-start game, Hughes eventually got her goal when she picked up a loose ball inside the area, which allowed her to strike the ball into an unguarded net – a 90th goal in Old Gold for the forward who was making her 100th appearance for the club.
After a spirited and relentless performance, McNamara’s side finished the game with a clean sheet and three goals.
Full-time | Wolves 3-0 Stoke City
LINEUPS
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, Simkin, George, Hughes (Quigley 90), Greengrass (Loydon 70), Johnson, Anderson, Toussaint (J. Cross 90+2), Jenner, Merrick (Roberts 82).
Unused subs | Clarke, Holmes, Smith.
Stoke City | Hobson, Molinari, Cook, Suttie, Kivel, Holder, Reavill, Stamps, Ravening, Collins (Priestley 69), Cole.
Unused subs | Thompson, Watson, Tudor, Deaville, Nelson.
09/03/2025 | Hull City (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
23/03/2025 | West Bromwich Albion (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
30/03/2025 | Burnley (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
13/04/2025 | Halifax (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
27/04/2025 | Liverpool Feds (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
Report by Thomas Gibson
