Bradford City Women 4 (White 78, Stuart 81, Lee 85, 90+4)
Wolves Women 1 (J. Cross 36)
Wolves Women suffered their third league defeat of the season after a dramatic last 12 minutes of the game which saw them go from leading to losing 4-1 away to Bradford City Women.
It was the home side who took control early on, but an Ellie Olds shot came back off the crossbar.
Wolves’ first real chance came in the 10th minute from a corner taken by Billie Haynes which produced a scramble in the box, but Bradford managed to clear.
Just two minutes later a Wolves free kick found Jade Cross, pictured, whose shot was saved by the keeper.
Bradford came close in the 16th minute but a great save from Clarke in the Wolves goal kept the score at 0-0.
The game was end to end, but it was Wolves who finally made the breakthrough in the 36th minute after a free kick by Courtney Jones was flicked onto Jade Cross, and she headed past the keeper to put Wolves ahead.
In the 44th minute Wolves had a great chance to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty, but Jen Anslow’s spot kick was saved and the half finished with Wolves leading by a single goal.
Bradford were awarded a corner just after the start of the second half, but Wolves cleared their lines, and went straight up to the other end, but Jade Cross’s shot was saved by the keeper.
In the 55th minute a shot from Leanne Robinson rattled the crossbar and went out for a goal kick to Bradford.
Manager Tim Dudding then rang the changes, bringing on Laura McQuilkin and Jodie Bragan. Bradford were having a good spell, but Wolves did well to keep them at bay.
Bradford pressed on and finally got the equaliser in the 78th minute after some great passing play found Ellie White whose shot beat Clarke in the Wolves goal.
Bradford, now brimming with confidence pushed on, and just three minutes later they were ahead when a shot from the corner rebounded off Clarke for Charlotte Stuart to head home and make it 2-1.
They added a third in the 85th minute with a free kick from Abi Lee which Clarke couldn’t get a proper connection to.
To make matters worse for Wolves, the final few minutes saw Anslow sent off before Bradford got a fourth goal with the last kick of the game to finish off the worst 12 minutes of the day.
Wolves Assistant Manager Tom Davies said: “It was a tough result to take after being 1-0 up at 78 minutes.
“The scoreline doesn’t reflect the performance and it doesn’t reflect the game.
“We need to learn from those missed chances early on, but we have to take the positives from the result.”
There’s no game for Wolves Women on Sunday, but they will be back at Hednesford Town for a local derby under floodlights on Wednesday 20th September when they entertain West Bromwich Albion Women with a 7.45pm kick-off. Admission is £2; Concessions and Wolves season ticket holders £1.
Wolves Team: Clarke, Hakeman (McQuilkin), Anslow, Bavington, Butler, Jones, Whetton (Howard), E.Cross, J.Cross, Robinson, Haynes (Bragan). Subs: Glenny, Simpson, Bate, Hewitt.
PICTURE: Simon Faulkner
