Wolves 5 (Fergusson 4, Merrick 20, 90 pen, George 45+2, Hughes 70) Derby 1 (Jenkins 66)
Wolves Women concluded their home fixtures at the New Bucks Head with an incredible 5-1 victory over Derby County, making it seven wins in a row.
The Old Gold were quick off the mark through Liv Fergusson, who secured her second goal in as many games when she volleyed home inside five minutes. Beth Merrick also got on the scoresheet for the second game running when she lobbed Derby keeper Anna Draper from 20 yards out. Tammi George rounded off the first half dominance by rifling a shot into the top corner in stoppage time.
In a quieter second half, the visitors pulled one back through Camille Jenkins, who scrambled home from a corner. Wolves regained their three-goal cushion minutes later through Amber Hughes, who found the back of the net once again. Right at the death, the hosts won a penalty, which Merrick took and coolly slotted away for her second goal of the evening.
Wolves made an early breakthrough inside five minutes after Katie Johnson flicked a ball onto Fergusson, who was on hand at the back post to fire home.
The Old Gold maintained their dominance and were close to scoring their second of the evening just after 10 minutes through Ellie Wilson who drove a fierce shot at Draper, but she managed to parry clear.
Layla Banaras sprayed the ball across to Merrick in the middle of the park just past the 20-minute mark and the midfielder drove a powerful shot from 20 yards out, which lobbed Draper and nestled into the back of the net.
The game was firmly in Wolves hands, and they went close to a third on the half-hour mark when Merrick squared the ball to Wilson in the box who, from close range, looked to tap the ball past Draper, but she got a hand on it and pushed it out for a corner.
Wolves were looking to pull further ahead just before the break. Fergusson drove a shot at Draper from inside the danger zone, but the Rams keeper reacted quickly and parried it out only as far as George, who went for a shot, but Derby scrambled and kept it out.
In first half stoppage time, the Old Gold made it three when George made a surging run to the edge of the box before lifting a shot over Draper and into the top corner.
Half-time | Wolves 3-0 Derby
After only two minutes into the second period, the hosts won a free-kick from 25 yards out. Merrick curled a beautiful effort around the Derby wall, but it rebounded off the post and was cleared away by the Ewes.
Derby pulled one back on the hour mark with one of their few opportunities of the evening. A corner ball reached Jenkins at the back post, and she poked it in after a goal-line scramble.
However, it wasn’t long before the Old Gold reaffirmed their three-goal cushion. Hughes won the ball high up the pitch and tackled the onrushing Draper before calmly slotting into the back of the net.
Wolves substitute Jade Cross was then brought down in the box right at the death and earned a penalty, which Merrick took and coolly slotted home to secure a seventh win on the bounce.
Full-time | Wolves 5-1 Derby
NEXT THREE
28/04/24 – Halifax (A)
05/05/24 – Liverpool Feds (A)
14/05/24 – Rugby Borough (N) BCC final
TEAMS
Wolves | Thomas, Wilson (Bramford 62), Morphet (Roberts 62), George (E. Cross 62), Hughes (Harrison 78), Holmes (J. Cross 78), Johnson, Banaras, Fryer, Fergusson, Merrick.
Derby | Draper, Sims, Steggles, Jackson (Ward 21), Wilson, Joyce, Ashton, Jenkins, Rhodes-Andrews (Towers 68), Meadows (Rai 75), O’Conner.
Unused subs | Morgan, Shepherd.
Report by Jordan Preece
