An Amber Hughes double and a wonder strike from Maz Gauntlett were among the goals that helped Wolves secure three points and a place at the top of the table, at the expense of Hull City Ladies.
A positive start for Wolves saw Beth Merrick take on a shot outside from the box, forcing Hull goalkeeper Abigail Wallace to make an early save, only minutes after the first whistle.
On the ten minute mark, Wolves took the lead through captain Anna Price from close range, following a corner taken by Merrick. Wolves then doubled their lead through Amber Hughes, whose first attempt went straight to the goalkeeper, but her rebound found the back of the net.
Shan Turner then made a fantastic save in the final 15 minutes of the first-half, tipping the ball over the bar to deny a Hull free-kick, meaning it was just the two goals separating the sides at half-time, as Wolves went into the break with the upper hand.
Half-time | Hull 0-2 Wolves
Despite Hull starting the second-half well, Jade Cross and Amber Hughes linked up well, with Cross almost scoring Wolves’ third.
Hull became more confident as the half progressed, but that did not stop Wolves from getting the third goal they craved. A ball from Hughes to Gauntlett enabled the forward to strike a spectacular ball into the back of the net, dinking it over the goalkeeper in the process.
A new signing in Hayley Hoare then came on to replace Jade Cross in the 72nd minute, with the defender joining Wolves on loan from WSL side Aston Villa.
The home side pushed untill the final whistle, but an excellent defensive display from Wolves denied them any goal-scoring opportunity.
It got better too – two quick goals in added time saw substitute Amy Dicken get her name on the scoresheet with a well-worked effort from outside the box, and a minute later Hughes got her second of the game, rounding off an impressive victory away from home.
Full-time | Hull 0-5 Wolves
REACTION
On the win
Wolves boss Dan McNamara thought the girls were fantastic away from home on Sunday against a tough Hull City side.
He said: “It’s a difficult pitch to play on but I thought the girls adapted to it fantastically. It was a real professional performance, and a clean sheet is always difficult to achieve in those sorts of winds. I thought we managed the game fantastically.
“We were really good out of possession too, which is something we knew we wanted to work on, and the girls have done that, so I’m really pleased.
“We talked at half-time, and I said I don’t like 2-0, I think it’s a terrible score line. Hull are aggressive and they will come at you if you give them even a tiny bit of the ball. I said if we give them a yard, they will take it, so we knew the next goal would be key. Once we got that third, we could relax.
“It’s all about getting the girls on. It was great to see Helen [Dermody] back on the pitch and Natalie [Widdal]. Hayley made her debut from Villa today, so I’m delighted to be working with her, and same with Amy [Dicken] and Ellie [Butler], so all round a great day and great week.”
On Maz Guantlett’s return
“We knew how much quality we had signed in Maz over the summer, with her recovery taking possibly a bit longer than she had hoped, but you saw her head over straight to tales to share that moment with him which will have been special.
“She wants to be on the pitch and scoring goals and the finish was terrific in itself, which I’m sure she was pleased with and it was great to see.”
COMING UP
Wolves face Huddersfield at home on Sunday; Huddersfield currently sitting sixth in the table.
“Huddersfield are a great side and up there with some of the best sides we’ve played this season. We will prepare, get back in training. That pitch will have taken a lot out of the girls today, so we will see how they are on Tuesday and put a game plan together.”
NEXT FIVE
13/02 Huddersfield (H)
20/02 Boldmere St Michaels (A)
27/02 Nottingham Forest (A)
02/03 Stoke City (H)
06/03 Burnley (A)
TEAMS
Hull: Wallace, McIntosh (Walby 75), Dawson, Driscoll, Langford, Tanser, Bott (Martin 80), Pollock, Thompson (Ackroyd 70), Lynsvey, Smith (Bowman 70).
Wolves: Turner, Cooper (Widdal 80), Price, E. Cross (Dermody 80), Gauntlet (Butler), George (Dicken 72), J. Cross (Hoare 72), Hughes, Morphet, Elsmore, Merrick.
