Reading 1 (Perry 34) Wolves 2 (Merrick 71, Toussaint 88)
Two second half goals from Beth Merrick and Destiney Toussaint fired Wolves Women into the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup against Championship side Reading.
Madison Perry gave the Royals the lead on 34 minutes before Dan McNamara’s Old Gold fought back to claim a historic victory through Merrick’s equaliser and Toussaint’s winner two minutes from time at the EBB Stadium.
Liv Fergusson almost got her side off to a dream start just seconds into the game as she stole the ball high up the pitch from the Royals’ defence but the referee blew for a foul as she found herself one-on-one with the keeper.
She had another opportunity soon after as she chased a through ball down but Emily Orman reacted quickly to collect the ball and deny the oncoming striker.
The Old Gold’s bright start to the game continued with Merrick being denied by a strong challenge before her cross was just too high for Fergusson who was waiting at the back post.
Merrick Will nearly opened the scoring with a long range strike which was agonisingly wide of the target with 10 minutes played.
Tammi George created the next opportunity for Amber Hughes when she won the ball in the heart of the midfield before finding the run of the forward who beat her player, but could only direct her shot into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Reading were looking dangerous on the counter attack but Wolves’ back line was standing strong and denying the hosts of any clear cut opportunities.
Tia Primmer had a half chance to open the scoring as she hit a half volley goalwards from the edge of the area but it rose over Shan Turner’s goal and out for a goal kick.
Hughes found herself with the time to get a shot off in the box after some good work by Merrick but her strike was past the post.
Chances continued to come for the Old Gold as a cross found Fergusson inside the six-yard box but her effort flashed wide.
Ellie Wilson had her first chance just after when Anna Morphet’s short free-kick found Merrick who delivered into the box, but she could only glance a header past the post.
Reading then took lead in the 34th minute when some miscommunication between the Wolves players allowed Perry to pick the ball up inside the area before she finished calmly past Turner.
As the visitors searched for an equaliser, Toussaint was able to pick the ball up out wide before laying it off to Sophie Bramford but her shot was blocked before it could create Orman any problems.
Half-time | Reading 1-0 Wolves
Wolves continued their dominant display as the second half got underway with Bramford having an effort blocked on the line before George had an effort intercepted before it could cause problems for Orman.
Reading nearly doubled their lead through Lauren Wade as a deep cross into the area found her in space but her shot looped into Turner’s arms.
Primmer came close soon after, finding herself in a similar position to Wade, but Turner collected her shot as it was going wide of the target.
Bramford took matters into her own hands as she turned two players in midfield before driving goal-wards, but her effort was into the keepers arms.
It would be Merrick who levelled things up in the 71st minute as she drove down the left wing before cutting inside and firing goalwards, lifting the ball over Orman and into the net.
The emotions of scoring in the #AdobeWomensFACup 💛 pic.twitter.com/ciacefT2hL
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) January 14, 2024
Turner made a brilliant save to prevent Reading from restoring their lead as a powerful shot came in from the edge of the area.
Hughes came close to giving the Old Gold the lead for the first time during the game with five minutes left to play, but her shot from just inside the area was just over the bar.
New signing Meesha Dudley-Jones then hit the bar from close range as she looked to make an impact during her first appearance as part of the pack.
However, Toussaint would find the winner with just two minutes left of normal time when Wilson’s deep cross found her waiting to head home at the back post to spark jubilant scenes and dramatically secure a place in the fifth round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for Wolves.
Full-time | Reading 1-2 Wolves
😅😅😅 pic.twitter.com/xVp7NUPGss
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) January 14, 2024
NEXT FIVE
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Reading | Orman, Dugdale, Houssein (Longhurst 79), Smith, Wellings, Primmer, Perry, Wade, Hendrix, Kith (Wolley 60), Estcourt.
Unused subs | Annets, Hunt, Kennedy, Poile.
Wolves | Turner, Wilson, Morphet, George, Will (Roberts 79), Hughes (J. Cross 90+5), Johnson, Fergusson (Dudley-Jones 75), Toussaint, Bramford, Merrick.
Unused subs | Price, E. Cross, Harrison, Thomas, Fryer, Denham.
Report by Bek Howell
