After a campaign with plenty of positives to build on for Wolves Women, Beth Roberts and Katie Johnson are now focused on finishing on a high by retaining the Birmingham Challenge Cup.
It’s a competition Wolves have enjoyed in recent years, beating West Bromwich Albion in the final two years ago and Stourbridge Women 12 months ago, so a hat-trick is now on the horizon, with McNamara’s side ready to face Rugby Borough on Tuesday evening at the Pirelli Stadium. Click here for tickets.
The Old Gold finished the regular season with victory over Liverpool Feds and secured a fourth-place finish, but now silverware lies ahead, and for Roberts, she believes Wolves finishing the season strongly will only help them heading into the final.
“It’s another great game, I can’t wait for it,” Roberts said. “Rugby Borough are a great side, but I think we’ve got what it takes to give them a good game and hopefully retain the cup.
“It’s definitely been a season of highs and lows. We’ve probably not been as consistent as we’ve wanted to be, but we’ve certainly had great moments, and towards the end of the season we’ve definitely built momentum. I feel like we’re at the best we’ve been so far. Overall, I’ve really enjoyed it.
“We can hopefully take all this momentum into next season and pre-season. So, you could say it’s come at a good time, but we would have loved it to come earlier in the season when we were still in the run in to compete to win the league. It is what it is and we’re glad we’ve got momentum now.”
A highlight of the season came in the closing weeks of the campaign, as Wolves came from 3-0 down to beat Nottingham Forest 4-3 in dramatic circumstances, with Beth Merrick scoring the winner late on, and while she wants to do it easier this time, Johnson is aiming for similar celebrations come Tuesday.
“We’re looking to do the same, but hopefully not make hard work of it this time. We’re looking to provide a big moment and occasion for the team. It’s been a difficult season with postponed games, so it’s been difficult to get some momentum going, but if we create a memory for ourselves in the cup final, I think it’ll be a happy season for everyone.
“Moment of the season has got to be the 4-3 against Forest, with the way we did it. We had our worst first half of the season and after 60 minutes we pulled together and scored some unreal goals and they were scenes at the end to win 4-3. That was probably the best moment for me.
“Amber got our first goal back, and at 3-2 we were definitely ready. At 3-3, I remember Liv scoring and I got the ball straight away because we could win it and the momentum was with us. Momentum’s a massive thing in football and I think we embraced it, and I knew we were going to get the winner, so when it struck Beth’s foot, I knew it was going in straight away.”
The Old Gold have big match experience to call upon going into the cup final, and Roberts is tapping into the semi-final of this same competition against rivals West Bromwich Albion, when Jade Cross scored a last-minute equaliser and goalkeeper Bec Thomas was the penalty shoot-out hero, which set up Tuesday’s Rugby showdown.
“There was the Reading win and coming so close against Brighton, but for me, West Brom in the Country Cup when we won on penalties was the best moment. Even though we made it hard for ourselves that day, the penalty win, and Thommo in goal with some of the saves she made, that was definitely my favourite, with all the celebrations after that.
“My nerves were shot and I didn’t even take a penalty, so I don’t know how the girls who were brave enough to step up felt. I was so nervous, but I had faith in the team.”
Regardless of the result, it’s been a successful season in the eyes of Johnson, who has been a regular in the Old Gold defence for the first time this year and is reaping the reward of her patience.
She said: “I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It’s my first season playing consistently, so I’m happy with that. It’s been a bit hit-and-miss the last few seasons, so to really engrain myself in the team this season has been a good personal achievement from me. It’s taken some time, I had to go out on loan, and it’s paid off.
“As a team, we always knew it was going to be tough against the top teams competing with a lot bigger finances than we have, but we should take our league position as a big positive. We’ve really come together these last few games and put some good performances together, scored a lot of goals, and I think it’s something good to take into the new season.”
