Jen Anslow’s early goal as well as Jade Cross’s first half hat-trick meant Wolves held off a late comeback from Sporting Khalsa to progress to the next round of the National League Cup.
It was a dream start for Wolves when Anslow’s free-kick managed to go over everyone, including the goalkeeper, and nestle into the back of the net.
Wolves continued to control much of the first-half and they eventually doubled their lead through Cross. A deep corner found her and she made no mistake, scoring her 100th goal for the club.
Just four minutes later Cross got her second when Lois Jefferies’s ball found her unmarked from six yards out. Cross managed to pick her spot and blasted the ball into the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Then, right on the half-time whistle, Cross claimed her treble. A long through ball reached her onside and she calmly placed it past the goalkeeper, making it a complete first-half performance.
The second-half was far more even and within ten minutes Wolves lead was reduced when Lauren Walker headed home from a corner.
Sporting almost got a second midway into the half when Chloe Handy hit the upside of the bar, but, despite this, Wolves still had a chance to further their lead when Cross had her shot cleared off the line.
Wolves kept pressing for a fifth goal as the game went on, with both Jamilla Palmer and Alice Keitley having shots saved well by Stacey Garnham.
However, it was Sporting Khalsa who would get the final goal when Louisa Anderson managed to convert from a well-executed cross.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
A 100th goal for a club is always special and Jade Cross’ case was no different. It was a typical poacher’s finish from the striker and the goal asserted Wolves’ dominance in the game.
QUOTES
Wolves manager Dan McNamara was pleased to see his side progress into the next round of the cup
He said: “We’re in the hat and I think that was the big thing, the aim was to progress to the next round, and we have done that.
“Credit to Khalsa, they regrouped at half-time and really came out of the traps. They looked dangerous and caused us a lot of problems; credit to them [they were] very good second-half, we were off the pace, though.”
He was also full of praise for Jade Cross for getting her 100th goal as well as scoring a hat-trick.
“I’m really pleased for Jade, I know it's been hanging over her now for a number of weeks now, probably since the end of last season. She has dealt with that and it was a fantastic occasion for her to grab her hat-trick and again it shows how professional she is, she scores that 100th then she goes onto scores another two.
“We’re really pleased for her, she’s a great player and a huge part of what we are trying to do here at Wolves.”
COMING UP
Wolves return to league football with an away test at Burton on 1st September. Then, another away day follows this with a long trip to The New Saints for a midweek clash on the 4th September.
NEXT FIVE
01/09 Burton Albion (A)
04/09 The New Saints (A)
08/09 Leicester United (H)
15/09 Leafield Athletic (A)
29/09 Doncaster Rovers (H)
TEAMS
Wolves: Elbro, Widdal (Buck 79), Price, E.Cross, Jennings, Anslow, Bramford, Barnett, Glover (Keitley 66), J.Cross, Jefferies (Palmer 70).
Unused subs: Morphet, Thomas.
Sporting Khalsa: Garnham, Green (Turvey 63), Kydd, Ducay (L.Walker 46), Evans, Keeling, Morely, Stirrup, Handy, Morris, (Anderson 46), Civil.
Unused subs: Parkes, E. Walker.
Report by Jack Dawson
