Nottingham Forest Ladies 0
Wolves Women 5 (Price 7, Haynes 12, J. Cross 16, Williams 75, Criddle 79 pen)
In the searing heat, Forest had the first shot on target in the fifth minute, but it was Wolves who took the lead just two minutes later as captain Anna Price headed home from a Jen Anslow corner.
In the 12th minute Wolves doubled their lead as Billie Haynes latched onto a loose ball and managed to find the back of the net.
The visitors now had their tails up and made it 3-0 as Haynes turned provider for Jade Cross.
Wolves pressed on, forcing several corners with no reply from Forest and went in at the break 3-0 up.
Forest started the second half well, pinning Wolves back in their own half for the first 10 minutes, and forcing an excellent save from Clarke in the Wolves goal.
Wolves got their passing game working again, with Cross, Andrea Whetton and Anslow all going close, and Forest’s players becoming frustrated.
In the 70th minute a screamer from Anslow was well held by Thomas in the Forest goal. Price then headed just wide from a corner before Chloe Williams made it 4–0 to Wolves in the 75th minute as her shot hit the post and went in.
In the 79th minute Cross was brought down in the area and Wolves were awarded a penalty. Before it could be taken the Forest captain earned herself a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and was sent off. Substitute Charlotte Criddle stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to get Wolves’ fifth goal and round off a resounding win.
Despite their fighting end to the season, Wolves find themselves in the bottom two, but must now wait until the FA announce the new Women’s Super League and Premier League structure after the play-offs on 27th May to find out whether they will be relegated.
Manager Dan McNamara said: “That’s been coming for a while; what a performance. To come away from home in a must win game and play with such passion, desire and determination at such a ferocious tempo sums up the players’ attitude over the last 7 games.
"They deserve to stay in this league. They’ve proved that by going 6 games unbeaten and taking 12 points. I couldn’t be prouder.
“Thanks for all the support from the fans today and since I came into the club. The feel good factor is back at Wolves and I’m really excited for the future.”
WOLVES | Clarke, Anslow, E.Cross, Price (c), Butler, Whetton, Williams, J.Cross, Jones (Howard), George (Shirley), Haynes (Criddle)
SUBS NOT USED | Widdal, Meeson
PICTURE | Mark Birchill
