Derby County 1 (Dalton 5) Wolves 2 (Morphet pen 22, Johnson 32)
Wolves Women made it two consecutive wins to start the season as they beat Derby County Women 2-1 at the Don Amott Arena.
Two first half goals from Anna Morphet and Katie Johnson maintained the Old Gold’s perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign on Sunday afternoon.
Wolves came into the game on the back of an opening day 4-0 victory at home to Stourbridge Women and looked to make it two wins in two.
Dan McNamara’s side started the better, but it was Derby who took the lead after just five minutes through Paris Dalton as the forward took advantage of a loose touch in the Wolves midfield and lobbed the ball over Bec Thomas in the away net.
Pressure then mounted on the home side as Beth Roberts, playing higher up as a left winger, persistently challenged the Ewes’ defence and had the better of her marker on numerous occasions and finally got the result when the referee pointed to the spot for handball on her opponent.
Captain Morphet stepped up and executed the spot-kick to open her scoring for the season and level the game 22 minutes in.
A second Wolves goal followed just 10 minutes later when debutant Becky Anderson’s corner was met by defender Johnson whose glanced header into the far corner gave the Old Gold the lead.
Roberts’ day was constantly on the ascend as she won another penalty in the 44th minute, this time after her marker brought down the number 22 and provided Morphet with the chance to add to the lead and her scoring.
Morphet, however, could not put her second penalty away and fired just over the bar to keep the score 2-1 after an entertaining first half.
Half-time | Derby County 1–2 Wolves
The second half commenced differently to the first as neither team managed to build on their first half performances that saw both on the scoresheet.
Wolves were the first team to threaten in the 63rd minute when Jade Cross dispossessed Camille Jenkins down the right-hand side, before the number nine found Charlotte Greengrass in the middle just 12 yards out who failed to hit the target.
As the last 15 minutes approached, the game started to drift with neither team getting a foothold, however Wolves looked comfortable, and the home side managed to stay in the game.
Derby finally started to ask questions of the Wolves defence with just five minutes left but McNamara’s resolute defence stood tall and cleared away any danger.
After Summer Holmes was sent to the sin bin for the final 10 minutes, frustrations spilled over for the home side in the 90th minute as Rebecca May received a red card for a push on Tammi George after a dispute surrounding a free-kick.
Five minutes into added time, Derby substitute Chené Muir saw an opportunity to run through on goal before Morphet pulled her down and also received a sending off with seconds left.
Despite the late red card, steady and successful game management saw Wolves see out the win to make it six points from an available six in the first two matches.
Full-time | Derby County 1-2 Wolves
LINE UPS
Derby | Jones, Steggles, Jackson, Wilson, Joyce, Oakley (Rai 70), Jenkins, Dalton, Burt, Miller (Muir 46), May.
Subs not used | Hilliard, Ward, McGowan, Meadows, Morgan.
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, Holmes, George, J. Cross, Greengrass, Johnson, Anderson, Roberts (Loydon 85), Smith, Jenner.
Subs not used | Elbro, E. Cross, MacPhail, Banaras, Fryer, Denham.
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Report by Callum Greybanks.
