Wolves Women 5 (McQuilkin 47, Perks 52, J. Cross 53, Luke 75, Brackenbury 89)
Birmingham & West Midlands Ladies 2 (McDonagh, 7, Pritchard 21)
Wolves Women fought back from a 2-0 deficit at the break to record an impressive 5-2 victory over Birmingham & West Midlands Ladies under floodlights at Keys Park on Wednesday night.
Wolves got off to a slow start and saw Birmingham & West Midlands take advantage in just the seventh minute, when a fantastic shot from outside the box by Jodie McDonagh managed to loop over keeper Lucy Gardner and into the goal.
Wolves were struggling to create chances, but did manage a couple in quick succession, with McQuilkin shooting over the bar before Amber Quick’s shot was well held by the keeper.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 21st minute after catching Wolves on the counter attack. Their first shot came back off the post, before the next shot was parried by Gardner in the Wolves’ goal, but the ball fell into the path of Annie Pritchard who duly despatched it to make it 2-0 to Birmingham & West Midlands.
Wolves were then trying to pull themselves back into the game, but didn't create a clear cut chance until the 44th minute, after the ball was played by Emma Cross into her sister Jade, whose shot went over the bar, leaving the hosts 2-0 down at the break.
Wolves came out fighting at the start of the second half and took just two minutes to get on the scoresheet. A lovely ball from Dom Luke found Andrea Whetton, whose pinpoint cross was met by McQuilkin to finish in the bottom corner.
Wolves now had their tails up, looking to get the equaliser, and they managed to do that only five minutes later when Jen Anslow’s perfect corner ball was met by captain Anna Perks whose header nestled in the back of the net.
Wolves then pushed on against a deflated Birmingham side and took the lead just a minute later with a fine finish from Jade Cross, making it 3-2.
Having scored three goals in the space of six minutes Wolves were now on the rampage, with crosses coming in from every angle, and in the 75th minute Luke’s stunning shot from outside the box beat the keeper to put Wolves in clear control of the game.
Manager Steve Cullis made a string of substitutions, with Hakeman, Holden and James entering the fray. The home side weren’t finished yet and another corner from Anslow in the 89th minute was finished by Vicky Brackenbury to add to the visitors’ misery and seal another comeback win for Wolves.
Cullis said: “Credit to the girls, what an absolutely fantastic performance in the second half. I couldn’t be any more proud of the players today.”
Wolves now turn their attention to the FA Cup 2nd round, meeting league leaders Loughborough Foxes for the first time this season on Sunday 9th October.
Team: Gardner, E. Cross, Anslow, Luke, Perks, Brackenbury, Whetton (Hakeman), Quick, J Cross, McQuilkin (Holden), Davis (James). Subs: Lock, Hewitt.
