Women's report | Wolves 5-0 Huddersfield

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3rd April 2023

Wolves 5 (J. Cross 18, Merrick 22, 36, Toussaint 56, Morphet 69 pen) Huddersfield 0

A record-breaking attendance for Wolves Women witnessed a five-star display as the old gold defeated Huddersfield Town in front of 3,834 fans in an atmosphere-filled Molineux who made their voices heard in support of the team. 

It was also a historic afternoon for Tammi George and Anna Morphet who both celebrated a century of appearances for the pack.

It was a positive start for Dan McNamara’s side as Wolves showed confidence in possession as they transitioned from defence to attack with great success. The best chance of the early stages fell to Destiney Toussaint after a precise through ball from George, however, Toussaint’s attempt on goal went just wide as the old gold continued their search for the opener.

After she almost got an assist, George decided she wanted to try and get a goal too as she received the ball in the Huddersfield box and proceeded to put the shot just wide of the opposition goal.

Wolves’ positive play was eventually rewarded with the first goal of the game. It started with Beth Roberts’ energy down the left as she raced down the wing and continued to cause problems for Huddersfield. She got in a position to play it over to Toussaint who then found Helen Dermody on the edge of the box. Dermody smashed an attempt on goal, but it bounced off the underside of the crossbar. However, Jade Cross was there to sniff out the rebound and get the first goal for Wolves as Molineux erupted.

It didn’t take too long for Wolves to double their lead as Cross added an assist to her tally with a fantastic ball right to the foot of Beth Merrick who took her time and calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner of Lauren Joyce’s goal.

Huddersfield tried to thwart the dominance of the old gold, but their attempts were unsuccessful as another period of dominance from Wolves led to their third of the first half.

In almost a repeat of the second goal, Cross picked up the ball and played it across to the feet of Merrick whose impressive composure continued to show as she placed it into the exact same corner to make it a brace for herself.

Half-time | Wolves 3-0 Huddersfield Town

The game plan was different for Wolves in the second half as they started to play with more patience and an emphasis on keeping possession throughout the second half now that they had a comfortable lead.

That didn’t mean that was that for the goals though, as Merrick received the ball on the right-wing before she played a floated cross across the Huddersfield goal which found the head of Toussaint. She was able to get herself a goal as her header fell perfectly into the bottom corner of Joyce’s net.

Huddersfield found a little bit of momentum as they pushed forward in an attempt to find a goal. However, they were unable to find that goal as the Wolves defence seemed unbreakable in front of the Molineux crowd.  

Before the Terriers could answer back, Wolves were able to continue to show their bite as a tricky run from George earned Wolves a penalty, as the two newest members of the 100 club worked together to get the old gold their fifth. Morphet stepped up and showed her composure as she buried the penalty to make it five on home soil.

It was a special occasion for debutant Naomi Bedeau who replaced Anna Price to make her Wolves debut in front of a record-breaking attendance at Molineux. Bedeau showed speed and great defensive positioning as she stepped right in, but the different dimensions offered caused new problems for the Huddersfield attackers.

The old gold would continue to retain possession and nullify the bark of the Terriers as they held onto their 5-0 victory to send the 3,843 fans home happy. 

REACTION

A 5-0 victory in front of a record-breaking crowd gave manager McNamara plenty of reason to be proud of his team’s performance, but he made it clear they need to stick with Nottingham Forest in the title race.

“We didn’t want it to turn into just an occasion, we wanted it to be a football match and I thought the girls did that very well,” McNamara said. “We have to keep going after the Nottingham Forest result, we have to make sure we’re on their tail if they do slip up.

“It was very important to get the three points, I think when you have a look at what is going on, the amount of people in here getting inspired by this group of players and today was about more than just the result, it was amazing. I had a bit of a moment just before kick-off where I reflected on the five years that I have had here, what me and the staff have managed to achieve. It’s a fantastic club to be a part of and long may it continue.”

On the message at half-time

“I just wanted to see us sustain it, we were probably a little disappointed we didn’t add to the tally a lot more. I wanted to see the first half performance transition over to the second half and I think we saw it in moments. It’s a big pitch out there and I think the intensity that they worked at in the first 45 made it tough as we approached the latter stages of the game.

“We stuck at it well and there were some really good performances out there. I think you saw Summer Holmes back at her best, Tammi doing what Tammi does, Jade Cross, Destiney Toussaint, Beth Merrick. Beth had a difficult weekend last weekend and wasn’t pleased with herself. Then she comes here and performs like that, gets two goals on what will be hallowed turf.”

On getting to play at Molineux

“It’s about making memories and they have made another one today. It’s a fantastic occasion and you see the amount of young girls that are getting inspired by this club, they’re having a real impact on the city. If you can see it then you can be it and those girls came out in their droves today to get behind the team. Hopefully we can continue this over the next few years, it’s really important that we keep inspiring the next generation of young female footballers. The girls are doing that, and I am really proud of them.”

On Tammi George and Anna Morphet reaching a century of appearances

“I think they’re two that have been here right from the very start, they’ve seen the growth of the club over the last five years and I’m really proud of them to get those 100 senior appearances. Both of them still have 10-15 years in them to continue playing at this type of level and the staff will try and help them in that. We want to make dreams happen for players like them and for the rest of the group.

“It’s fantastic, I’m really proud of both of them and long may it continue. One of them should have Anna’s 350 in their sights and who knows.”

On the upcoming game against Liverpool Feds

“It’ll be another really tough game, Amber Hughes is nearing fitness and we want to get her back on the pitch, we want to get her firing again. Katie Johnson was back on the pitch today, that was really important to get her back. We’re heading into it filled with confidence and we’ll need all 22 players with Boldmere 48 hours after.

“We have to keep going, we have to keep putting the pressure on Nottingham Forest and hope they slip up, then we’ll see where we go from there.”

A message to the fans who travelled to Molineux

“I know it was over 3,000 which is amazing, it’s fantastic from the fans. Hearing them singing Hi Ho Wolverhampton at the start was spine-tingling and it allows me to reflect on what we have achieved here over the last few years.

“The club has allowed that to happen with their backing and hopefully we can take the club onto the heights of the pyramid where they deserve to be at. With the fans being as proud as they are and singing like they have been, it makes me believe we can do that.”

NEXT FIVE

  • 09/04/2023 Liverpool Feds (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
  • 11/04/2023 Boldmere St Michael’s (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
  • 16/04/2023 Derby County (H) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
  • 23/04/2023 Burnley (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division
  • 30/04/2023 Brighouse Town (A) FAWNL Northern Premier Division

TEAMS

Wolves | Turner, Morphet, Price (Bedeau 69), E. Cross, George (Dicken 75), J. Cross, Dermody (Cooper 64), Holmes (Johnson 75), Toussaint (Miller 64), Roberts, Merrick.

Huddersfield Town | Joyce (Megeary 82), Stanfield, Ibbotson, Mallin (Stanley 82), Fields, Montgomery (Dill 75), Sanderson, Housley, Heslam, Hulme, Langford.

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