Women's FA Cup report | Wolves 0-2 West Ham

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30th January 2023
Wolves Women 0 West Ham Women 2 (Brynjarsdottir 70, Johnson OG 76)

Wolves Women continued to make history as they played their first game against WSL opposition in the fourth round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

Attendance records were smashed as 1,692 fans came to watch versus West Ham, doubling the previous attendance record held at the New Bucks Head for the old gold. The Hammers were able to leave with the victory in the end, but Wolves put in a performance to be proud of against their full-time counterparts, who sit two divisions above.

West Ham, managed by Paul Konchesky, held possession early on as both teams looked to find their feet. The Hammers’ goal was to keep possession and overwhelm the old gold, but the home side had a plan as they looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Beth Merrick caused real issues for the West Ham defence with her dribbling ability, with one run starting from her own defence as she drove with the ball into the away box before being eventually stopped by French international Hawa Cissoko.

West Ham’s biggest threat came from Izzy Atkinson who created multiple chances for the Hammers in the first-half, with her best opportunity coming when she forced a save from Shan Turner, leaving Lisa Evans with a possible rebound but it was put over the goal.

Wolves continued to hit West Ham on the break, but the away side were well organised and defended well throughout the first-half.

Half-Time | Wolves 0-0 West Ham

The old gold came out positive in the second half, catching their WSL foes on the break multiple times, with the closest attempt coming from Destiney Toussaint after she received a precise through ball from Maz Gauntlett. The West Ham defence continued to stay organised and were able to stop the home side from taking the lead.

A sensational passage of play then saw Turner make an incredible double stop while, at the other end, a ball from Toussaint found Helen Dermody who hit the back of the net. However, the flag was up to deny Wolves an opener, but it did show that Dan McNamara’s side could cause real problems on the break, forcing a shift in West Ham’s play.

And they were finally able to get their goal, as a backpass from Summer Holmes and quick attempt at a clearance from Turner led to the ball falling to substitute Dagny Brynjarsdottir, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner of the goal to give the visitors the lead.

The Hammers continued to pile on the pressure and they doubled their advantage within five minutes, when an attempted clearance from Katie Johnson unfortunately found the back of her own net.

The crowd never left Wolves’ side though, pushing the girls to continue battling, which they did for the full 90 minutes, making everybody in the New Bucks Head who were there to support the girls proud to be a Wolves fan the day.

Full-time | Wolves 0-2 West Ham

NEXT FIVE

  • 05/02/2023 Huddersfield Town (H) Women’s National League Cup
  • 12/02/2023 Nottingham Forest (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
  • 19/02/2023 Knowle (A) Birmingham County Cup
  • 22/02/2023 Stoke City (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
  • 12/03/2023 AFC Fylde (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division

TEAMS

Wolves | Turner, Morphet, E. Cross, George (Dicken 89), Gauntlett (Miller 67), J. Cross, Dermody (Cooper 81), Holmes, Johnson (Price 89), Toussaint (Taho 81), Merrick.

West Ham | Arnold, Evans (Brynjarsdottir 65), Snerle, Atkinson, Longhurst, Parker (Smith 65), Filis (Asseyi 56), Fisk, Cissoko, Houssein, Flannery.

Report by Callum Brannan

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“It’s a football club on a great, great journey and I’m just privileged to be part of it.”
Dan McNamara, Wolves Women