Wolves Women ended their campaign in style as they ran out 3-1 winners on their return to Molineux against Lincoln City on Friday evening.
Second-half goals from Anna Morphet, Kelly Darby and Amy Dicken turned around the away side’s early advantage, as Wolves marked their return to the third tier of the women’s game with a win.
The hosts had suffered a nightmare start on the night however, as Sophie Crosby’s early corner looped straight past Shan Turner to put the visitors in front after five minutes.
A critical intervention from Summer Holmes prevented Lincoln from doubling their lead minutes after the opener too, prompting Dan McNamara to rally his troops following a nervy start.
It proved just the tonic as the hosts began to dominate the ball and find their natural groove. Strikes from Jamila Palmer and Jade Cross were well-saved by Amy Halloran as Wolves’ pressure mounted before the interval.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Lincoln
The introduction of Lowri Walker in the second period provided the home team with further attacking impetus, and it was Halloran’s superb reflexes which denied the winger making an instant impact, producing another fine stop down to her right to deny the winger.
It seemed only a matter of time however before Wolves found their equaliser, and it came from the penalty spot after Palmer was tripped inside the area, allowing the reliable Morphet to fire home from 12 yards.
Then, Morphet’s useful set piece expertise came up trumps again for Wolves 15 minutes from time, when her corner found the captain Anna Price who nodded across goal for centre-back Darby to finish.
McNamara made a number of second-half changes to freshen his pack and to give as many opportunities to his players as possible, and it was Dicken who took her chance when it presented itself, converting low past the goalkeeper to assert the hosts’ dominance on the scoreline.
Celebrations followed in mass after the full-time whistle – a fine evening to wrap up a memorable season for everyone associated with Wolves Women.
Full-time | Wolves 3-1 Lincoln
Wolves | Turner, Darby, Cross, Morphet, Miller, Holmes, Price, George, Glover, Palmer, Cross.
Subs | Paraiso, Jennings, Conlan, Dicken, Johnson, Widdal, Anslow, Riley, Joyce, Evans, Walker.
Lincoln | Halloran, Thornley, Kay, Cooper, Crosby, Marsh, Bunichorn, Hardy, Roussean, Atkinson, McHamilton.
Subs | Timson, Johnson, Thomas, Williams, Chambers, Steadman, Scarll, Dean, Tuplin, Scotland, Willock.
By George Coombes
