Fylde 0 Wolves 3 (Holmes 34, Hughes 79, Wilson 83)
Wolves Women secured a fifth win on the spin with victory at Fylde Women on Sunday afternoon.
Summer Holmes, Amber Hughes and Ellie Wilson scored the goals for Dan McNamara’s side, who played the final 24 minutes against 10 following Lois Moore’s second yellow card, as the Coasters were relegated to tier four.
McNamara made five changes to the 11 that beat Halifax last weekend, as Wilson, Merrick Will, Jade Cross, Liv Fergusson and Sophie Bramford were all called upon. Meanwhile, Bec Thomas made her 100thappearance for the Old Gold in between the sticks.
And Thomas was forced into action early on at Kellamergh Park, as Sasha Rowe’s effort needed to be tipped over the top of the bar by the Wolves stopper.
At the other end, Will almost made a stunning return to action following injury, but her acrobatic effort was palmed away by Liz Craven.
The visitors were dealt early blows and forced into two substitutions when both Bramford and Will were unable to continue after picking up knocks.
However, Wolves were able to take the lead shortly after the half hour mark when Holmes netted her first of the season with an effort that was just out of reach of Craven, who could only watch it drop into the back of the net.
Wolves pushed for a second before the half-time interval and came close, but Holmes was denied by Craven before substitute Beth Merrick saw her attempt sail just wide.
Half-time | Fylde 0-1 Wolves
Early into the second period, Beth Roberts attacked down the left-hand side and flashed the ball right across the face of goal, with no one there to take advantage in the centre.
Fylde, without a win all season, then had to play the final third of the game with 10 players after Moore picked up a second yellow card and was shown her marching orders.
That gave Wolves the impetus to push on and look to add to their goal tally as, despite slipping as she got her shot away, Hughes was thwarted by Craven.
The Coasters still carried a threat and when Clara Samson drove forward with the ball, she squared dangerously into the six-yard box, but Thomas was able to watch the ball sail just wide with no takers in the middle.
The Old Gold scored their second of the afternoon on 79 minutes, and it was the in-form Hughes who was on hand to score her eighth goal in the last six games. Wilson did superbly to keep the ball in play at the back post and there was Hughes to follow in from close range to double the lead for the visitors.
And it was three just four minutes later as Wilson went from provider to scorer. Substitute Layla Banaras found the defender out on the right, before she cut in onto her left boot and struck an effort which took a deflection and found the back of the net.
Tammi George thought she’d added a fourth late on but, after a foul by Hughes in the centre, the referee disallowed it and Wolves had to settle for three.
Full-time | Fylde 0-3 Wolves
NEXT FIVE
21/04/24 – Nottingham Forest (H)
24/04/24 – Derby (H)
28/04/24 – Halifax (A)
05/05/24 – Liverpool Feds (A)
14/05/24 – Rugby Borough (N) BCC Final
TEAMS
Fylde | Craven, Francis-Jones, Hamill, Strutton, Thomas, Binks, Rowe, Dale (Whittaker 80), Moore, Kelsh-Ridge (Chan 68), Samson (Rogers 90+1).
Sub not used | Maguire.
Wolves | Thomas, Wilson, Morphet (Johnson 87), Will (George 30), J. Cross, Hughes, Holmes, Fryer, Fergusson (Banaras 71), Roberts (E. Cross 77), Bramford (Merrick 21).
