A Beth Merrick brace and Bec Thomas double penalty save helped Wolves to a convincing victory over Newcastle United Women in what was one of the most exciting contests of the season in the FA Cup third round, as Wolves booked their place in the hat for the fourth round, with another win meaning they will break the club record.
Wolves had travelled to the north east on the Saturday to ensure appropriate preparation, and Dan McNamara’s unchanged side looked to kick on from victory over Durham last time out on an icy 3G pitch at Kingston Park.
However, Wolves had the first scare of the game minutes in, when a mix-up in the midfield allowed Newcastle’s Katie Barker to chip Thomas, but luckily for the shot-stopper, the effort was sent just wide of the post.
Wolves reacted superbly and Beth Merrick was off the mark for the Wolves in no time. Charging through a sea of black and white, Merrick opened up her body and struck the ball beautifully from outside the box and watched it glide into the back of the net to give Wolves the early lead.
The Lady Mags pressed well as a unit, always trying to win the ball back, and they were rewarded for their efforts on the 25-minute mark, as a header from Kacie Nelson brought the score level following a counter-attack from the hosts.
Old gold poacher Amber Hughes had plenty of chances throughout the 90 minutes too, with the first of note arriving when she beat the hosts’ goalkeeper one and one and looked to strike into an empty net, but much to Hughes’ frustration the ball was sent wide.
Instead, it was an Anna Morphet penalty which gave the girls the advantage going into the break. After Jade Cross was bought down in the area by Newcastle’s goalkeeper, Morphet took the penalty calmly as she slotted it into the bottom left corner.
Half-time | Newcastle 1-2 Wolves
Both teams came out in the second half raring to go, but it was Wolves who started the half better, with the small set of travelling fans being treated to two goals in six minutes.
The first of the two goals came from midfield maestro Tammi George, as a well-worked ball from Katie Johnson met the feet of George, who volleyed beautifully into the back of the net.
There was then a moment of Merrick magic as she almost mirrored the goal she had scored in the first half, charging through the home side’s midfield and striking the ball with purpose from outside the box to get her well-deserved brace and her 9th and 10th goals of the season.
Then, it was time for Wolves shot-stopper Thomas to come into action, as she was forced into an unbelievable triple save to deny a string of chances from close-range for the hosts, but it’s what happened next which got McNamara and all associated with Wolves on their feet.
Newcastle were awarded a penalty late on in the half, but Thomas made herself known as she saved the spot kick. But after realising Thomas may have been off her line, Newcastle were allowed to retake, and knowing full well where the striker would put the ball, Thomas was there again to deny the penalty from going in.
Not long after, the hosts were down to ten players following a challenge which Merrick was on the receiving end of. Much to the dismay of the Newcastle fans, the referee did not hesitate to pull the red card out of his pocket and present it to Sharna Wilkinson.
It was substitute Maz Gauntlett who rounded of the well-earned victory as she found herself chipping the ball into the back of the net from an awkward angle and the girls made the long journey back to the midlands with smiles on their faces going into the next round.
Full-time | Newcastle 1-5 Wolves
NEXT FIVE
- 18/12/2022 Boldmere (A) Birmingham County Cup
- 08/01/2023 Liverpool Feds (H)
- 22/01/2023 Huddersfield (H) League Cup
- 29/01/2023 FA Cup fourth round (team tbc)
- 05/02/2023 Loughborough (A)
TEAMS
Newcastle | Donnelly, Wallis, Potts, Guy, Barker, Gibson, Elson, Robson (Harland 60), Wilkinson, Skelton, Bell (Greenslade 72).
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, E.Cross, George (Dicken 60), J.Cross (Gauntlett 68), Dermody, Hughes, Holmes (Cooper 56), Johnson, Toussaint (Miller 68), Merrick.
By Meg Garbutt
