Wolves comfortably navigated their way into the second round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 victory over Luton Town.
Goals from Shannie Jennings, Lowri Walker, Jade Cross and Sophie Bramford ensured the hosts recorded their tenth consecutive win in all competitions and entered the hat for the next round as a result.
Wolves started brightly and immediately gained control of proceedings when Jennings steered home a fine finish past Hassall into the far corner after seven minutes to give us an early advantage.
Jamilla Palmer come close on a number of occasions to doubling the lead before Walker eventually achieved the feat. The latter found a pocket of space inside the penalty area and caressed the ball past the goalkeeper to ensure the hosts’ command.
McNamara’s side were rarely troubled in the opening period and should have had a third when in-form Jade Cross somehow failed to convert before the break from close-range.
Cross made no mistake when played through on goal in the second-half however. The striker showed fantastic composure to take the ball round Hassall and slot home for her incredible 23rd of the season.
Wolves didn’t create a host of chances in the second 45 however when they did, they were clinical, and Bramford got in on the act with 18 minutes to go as she rounded off a fine team move. The substitute took a lovely nonchalant touch to evade the goalkeeper before tapping into the empty net to seal the victory.
Jessica McKay pulled one back for the visitors, heading past Elbro following a goal mouth scramble to eliminate the hosts’ chance of a clean sheet.
The goal proved just a consolation however as Wolves head into the hat for the second round.
QUOTES
Manager Dan McNamara insisted his team weren’t at their best today but was glad his team achieved the day’s main objective.
He said: “I thought we were good in parts of the game. Little snippets of what we’re about got us over the line in the end. I thought we lacked any real tempo or intensity throughout, we coasted through the game and didn’t get close to the levels we’re capable of.
“However, we’re into the next round which is what it’s all about, so that’s extremely positive.
“It’s a brilliant competition that I absolutely love. We’ve just got to take each game as it comes. We’ll be listening out on the radio tomorrow, the next tier come into it. We’ll see who we get, we’re excited.
“I’ve challenged the girls to still be in it after Christmas, which would be an improvement on last year for us. We look forward to it.”
COMING UP
Next up for Wolves Women is another cup fixture, this time away to Stoke City in the National League Cup, 14:00 kick off on 24th November. We then return to league action on the 8th December, away to Birmingham & West Midlands Ladies.
NEXT FIVE
24/11/19 | Stoke City (A)
08/12/19 | Birmingham & West Midlands (A)
15/12/19 | Long Eaton United (H)
12/01/20 | Lincoln City (A)
02/02/20 | Burton Albion (H)
TEAMS
Wolves: Elbro; Price, E. Cross, Widdal; Jones (Holmes 63), S. Jennings, Haynes, Glover (Wilson 84), Walker (Bramford 63); J. Cross, Palmer.
Unused substitutes: Buck, Dicken, Anslow, Bruton.
Luton: Hassall, Ferris, Blacksley, Carroll, Folan, Wade, Bryon, Gibson, Babalola, McKay, Kane.
Substitutes: Ayton, Abraham, Maddix, Tomlin, Taylor.
Report by George Coombes
