Wolves Women 0
Fylde Ladies 1 (Flint 39)
Wolves Women’s winless run continued as they suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Fylde Ladies.
Despite the run of eight league games without a win, it was Wolves who started the brightest. A series of chances fell to the home side in the first 10 minutes but they were unable to capitalise on their bright start.
Jade Cross had a volley saved by the Fylde goalkeeper after a well worked move and then she fired just wide as the away side failed to deal with a free kick.
Fylde began to get a foothold in the game after starting on the back foot, but a good defensive shape from Wolves meant they were reduced to shots from distance.
It was the away side who took the lead shortly before half-time. Fylde attacker Natasha Flint ran into the box and hit a low strike into the bottom corner, this coming just after Issy Foster had made a good save in the Wolves goal.
The second half began in opposite fashion to the first, with Fylde seeing much more of the ball than Wolves and calling Foster into action again a number of times.
The Wolves goalkeeper kept her side in the game with several good saves, a close-range dive at the feet of a Fylde attacker the pick of the bunch.
The heroics of Foster seemed to spur the rest of the team on and there was a noticeable step up in performance from the first-half.
Wolves suddenly looked like they had more self-belief and confidence that they could take something from the game. Their first chance of the second half fell to Andrea Whetton after she was found by Mai Butler’s ball over the top, but she fired her shot wide of the goal.
Jade Cross then came close again for Wolves, her shot being blocked in the box, before the woodwork prevented Fylde from doubling their lead.
Wolves continued to apply the pressure in the final minutes of the game but were unable to find a breakthrough. Jen Anslow’s attempted cross-come-shot which forced the Fylde goalkeeper to push the ball wide was the closest they came.
Wolves manager Tim Dudding was proud of his team’s performance despite their recent run of form. He said: ‘’It was another disappointing result today, particularly after how we performed in the second-half.
“We know we’re close, we know we’re not that far from those three points.
‘’The players are digging in on the pitch; we’re not losing five or six-nil. We’ve got to dig deep at this time, we’ve got to hold together and keep belief and that’s what we’re doing going into Tuesday.”
*Wolves will be hoping to change their fortunes when they travel to Boldmere St Michael's FC in Sutton Coldfield this Tuesday evening 17th October to face local rivals West Bromwich Albion Women (7.30pm kick-off). When the teams met at Hednesford Town last month Albion ran out 4-2 winners and Wolves are still looking for their first win of the season.
Then on Sunday 22nd October they turn their attention to the FA Women’s Plate as they entertain Long Eaton United Ladies at Hednesford Town FC with a 2pm kick-off. Admission is £2; concessions and Wolves season ticket holders £1.
TEAM: Foster, Hakeman, Anslow, Jones (Bate), Widdal (Price), Butler (C), Whetton (Hayes), McQuilkin, J.Cross, Robinson, E.Cross.
PICTURE: Mark Birchill.
