Halifax 2 (Sowerby 37, Stevens 62) Wolves 1 (Kemp OG 60)
Wolves Women’s seven-game winning run came to an end against Halifax on Wednesday evening.
Lucy Sowerby and Georgia Stevens scored the goals either side of Nicole Kemp’s own goal, as the Old Gold walked away without all three points for the first time since mid-March.
Taking place at Ilkeston Town’s New Manor Ground following Sunday’s late postponement, the game saw Beth Merrick become the latest to clock up 100 appearances for the club.
Dan McNamara’s side started strongly with Amber Hughes twice calling Becky Flaherty into action with a couple of smart saves.
At the other end, Bec Thomas was forced into a low stop when Courtney Willis made her way around Ellie Wilson before Thomas was equal to her strike.
Wolves controlled possession and after a neat Summer Holmes dink over the Halifax defence found Liv Fergusson, the forward took the ball down on her chest but could only poke wide. Moments later, an inviting Beth Roberts delivery from the left found the head of Hughes, however she glanced wide of the far post.
Halifax broke the deadlock on 37 minutes against the run of play when lone striker Sowerby was afforded time to take the ball down and curl a superb effort from 20-odd yards which nestled into the top corner and out of reach of Thomas.
Wolves came close to a leveller before the interval as Katie Johnson’s ball over the top to Fergusson was prodded just wide, while Anna Morphet headed off the top of the bar following Merrick’s cross.
Half-time | Halifax 1-0 Wolves
Thomas had to be alert early into the second period to prevent a second Halifax goal as she tipped Meg Boydell’s effort around the post.
The Old Gold probed for the equaliser and after Hughes headed just wide from a corner, they finally got their reward courtesy of the unfortunate Kemp who headed into her own net from Merrick’s corner.
However, Wolves were level for little over a minute as substitute Stevens regained the lead for Halifax as she caught Thomas off her line from distance, showing vision and accuracy to loft the ball over the top of the goalkeeper from just in front of the centre circle.
The final 25 minutes was all Wolves who hit the woodwork two more times in their quest for a second equaliser, with Morphet’s cross coming back off the crossbar before Merrick struck the inside of the post after jinking into the box and firing towards the far corner.
Hughes then poked towards goal after Holmes and substitute Jade Cross had combined well, but the shot lacked power and Flaherty was able claim.
Thomas made a vital save to prevent a third Halifax goal at the other end, as Drew Green collected on the right-hand side and smashed an effort at the near post which Thomas pushed over for a corner.
Tammi George was then in the thick of the action and would’ve been scratching her head as to how she didn’t level. First, Merrick crossed on a plate only for George to divert wide from a few yards out before Flaherty had to be at her best to tip a rasping attempt over the top.
A double save from Thomas twice denied Sowerby the third late on, as Wolves fell to a defeat which brought a halt to the winning run.
Full-time | Halifax 2-1 Wolves
NEXT UP
05/05/24 – Liverpool Feds (A)
14/05/24 – Rugby Borough (N) BCC final
TEAMS
Halifax | Flaherty, Boydell, Legge, Dean, Greene, White, Sowerby, Walton, Willis, Kemp, Oliver (Stevens 59).
Unused subs | Armson.
Wolves | Thomas, Wilson (Fryer 70), Morphet, George, Hughes, Banaras (Harrison 80), Holmes, Johnson, Fergusson (J. Cross 70), Roberts (Bramford 54), Merrick.
Subs not used | E. Cross.
