Wolves Women's thrilling journey in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup came to an end at the hands of Blackburn Rovers Ladies on Sunday, despite a spirited display against the WSL Championship side.
Goals from Maria Edwards, Saffron Jordan, Elise Hughes and Georgia Walters won the fourth-round tie for the visitors at New Bucks Head, despite Alisha Miller’s early opener.
Miller gave Wolves the perfect start following a great ball by Jamila Palmer who saw plenty of space for the forward who finished superbly into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.
15 minutes later saw Blackburn threatening at the other end, with Edwards firing past Thomas to get the equaliser.
Wolves started to look slightly unsettled at the back just before the break, and Blackburn got ahead for the first time in the game with a strike from Jordan. Edwards came in from the left with a chance that deflected and fell straight to the feet of her teammate who powered the shot in off the crossbar.
Blackburn continually looked sharper and grew more into the game as the half wore on, but Wolves were not without their chances though, as Jade Cross looked a continuous threat while keeping the pressure on Ellie Fletcher, but Blackburn were able to hold their lead at the break.
Half-time: Wolves 1-2 Blackburn
For large periods of the game, Wolves had matched Blackburn with their momentum and confidence, but Blackburn piled on the chances in the second-half.
Five minutes after the break saw good build-up play by the visitors as Natasha Fenton found Hughes in an effort that was beaten away by Bec Thomas. Moments later Fenton came close with a great strike from distance that went just slightly over the net.
A free-kick for Blackburn saw Walters's fantastic strike come off the crossbar and Hughes was there to tap it in and make it three for Rovers.
Just two minutes later however, substitute Nyah Edwards showed great persistence chasing down a loose ball, which eventually found the boot of Lowri Walker, who pounced in following a mistake from Alex Brooks in the Blackburn goal.
Wolves looked to be back in it with their resilience, making the game an interesting one from there on.
Jade Cross was denied a penalty moments before Walters was brought down herself just inside the Wolves box, via a shoulder-to-shoulder collision. The penalty was given by the assistant referee and Walters fired it into the net to restore Blackburn’s two goal lead.
With 20 minutes to play, Wolves maintained their belief and continued to create chances of their own.
Despite a few openings, Wolves gave away a free-kick 35 yards out from goal, which was converted into a quite stunning goal by Walters – a display of the Championship outfit’s quality.
Blackburn were happy to maintain possession in the final moments and see the game out, sealing their progress into the fifth round of the competition and bringing Wolves’ amazing cup run to an end.
Full-time: Wolves 2-5 Blackburn
TEAMS
Wolves: Thomas, Darby (Widdall 90), E.Cross, Morphet, Price, George (Dicken 90), Walker (Riley, 74), Miller, J.Cross, Palmer (Edwards 46), Holmes (Evans 85).
Unused subs: Conod, Jennings, Conlan, Paraiso.
Blackburn: Brooks, Fletcher, McDonald, Coan, Newsham, Fenton, Doyle, Edwards, Jordan, Walters, Hughes.
Subs: Bradley, Jukes, Richards, Dean, Embley, Boydell, Hodgson, Montgomery.
Words by Nikita Gomes Henschl
