Wolves 2 (Wilson 13, J. Cross 90) West Brom 2 (Jhamat 1, Newell 9)
Bec Thomas was the hero, saving two penalties in the shootout, as Wolves Women defeated rivals West Bromwich Albion on spot kicks to progress into the final of the Birmingham Challenge Cup at Compton Park.
After substitute Jade Cross had dramatically equalised in the final minute for the Old Gold to send the semi-final tie to penalties, goalkeeper Thomas set Wolves on their way in the shootout with her two stops while Anna Morphet, Destiney Toussaint and Ania Denham all scored before Katie Johnson netted the decisive kick from 12 yards to confirm a third successive final for the current holders.
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Dan McNamara’s side who found themselves a goal behind inside less than 30 seconds and two down before 10 minutes had been played. Wolves quickly halved the deficit through Ellie Wilson’s header, but had to wait until the final minute of play to level and force a shootout where they eventually prevailed to confirm a meeting with Rugby Borough in the final.
The game, which was taking place at the club’s training ground due to a waterlogged pitch at the New Bucks Head, got off to a far from ideal start for the home side as West Brom opened the scoring seconds after kick-off. Simran Jhamat got the visitors off to the perfect start, directing into the net after Phoebe Warner’s cross was headed by Delphi Cole before Jhamat did the rest.
And it was two in under 10 minutes as Hannah George’s free-kick was met by the head of Lucy Newell who nodded towards goal and into the bottom corner.
Liv Fergusson was denied by goalkeeper Anna Miller, who got down well to save from the attacker, before Wilson got Wolves right back in the game on 13 minutes from the resulting corner, heading home at the back post.
We're pushing for the equaliser after Wilson's goal 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lAU7Im3F01
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) February 18, 2024
The hosts came close to equalising as half-time approached, but Beth Merrick’s effort was superbly saved by Miller and Tammi George struck over the crossbar shortly before another Wilson header dropped the wrong side of the post.
Half-time | Wolves 1-2 West Brom
McNamara made a double change midway into the second half in an attempt to turn the tide, as Morphet and Cross were on for Sophie Bramford and Amber Hughes.
Chances came and went, with Johnson prodding over from inside the area following a corner before Cross got in behind down the right-hand side after being found by Merrick. She crossed low and towards the near post run of Fergusson, who got there ahead of the goalkeeper and defender, but her poke went just wide.
Summer Holmes made a welcome return to the pitch after seven months out injured, coming on for the final 13 minutes as Wolves continued to push for a leveller.
And that goal so nearly came, but Toussaint was denied by the woodwork as she met a Merrick corner firmly with her head, only to see the ball rattle back off the crossbar before Baggies scrambled clear.
As the clock ticked into minute 90, Wolves finally got their reward for a lengthy period of pressure and it was substitute Cross who forced the ball over the line. After Toussaint’s cross was blocked, Denham couldn’t quite scramble home before the ball dropped to the boot of Cross who was able to poke it over the line from a few yards out.
The Old Gold almost dramatically won the tie in stoppage time, but Johnson’s header was into the gloves of the grateful Miller as penalties were required to determine a winner.
Full-time | Wolves 2-2 West Brom
Wolves confirmed a place in the final after a perfect record in the shootout, as Morphet, Toussaint, Denham and Johnson all clinically dispatched from 12 yards, but it was goalkeeper Thomas who stole the headlines by saving West Brom’s opening two penalties as a ninth Black Country derby victory in a row was secured.
Full-time after penalties | Wolves 2-2 West Brom (Wolves win 4-2 on penalties)
Two saves in the shootout 🧤
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) February 18, 2024
Take a bow, Bec Thomas! pic.twitter.com/QgCD6VvF4q
NEXT THREE
21/02/24 – Stourbridge (A)
25/02/24 – AFC Fylde (A)
03/03/24 – Liverpool Feds (H)
TEAMS
Wolves | Thomas, Wilson, George (Holmes 77), Will (Denham 86), Hughes (J. Cross 63), Johnson, Fergusson, Toussaint, Roberts, Bramford (Morphet 63), Merrick.
Unused subs | Fryer.
West Bromwich Albion | Miller, Reynolds, Reavill, Newell, George (Crackle 83), Brown, Loydon, Orthodoxou, Jhamat (Mahmood 70), Warner, Cole (Evans 75).
Unused subs | Jones, Rabjohn.
