Hull 1 (Tugby-Andrew 24) Wolves 7 (Merrick 29 & 45 Worsey 50 Sims 53 & 65 Hughes 68 Loydon 88)
Wolves Women extended their superb start to the campaign with a resounding victory away at Hull City Ladies on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts struck first through Jessica Tugby-Andrew, but Beth Merrick’s first-half brace turned the game around to send Wolves into the break ahead.
A dominant second half saw Wolves cut loose, adding five more goals to put the game beyond doubt. Louanne Worsey got the ball rolling before Amber Hughes, Abi Loydon and a brace from Amy Sims sealed an emphatic victory for Dan McNamara’s side.
The win means its four consecutive wins, and sees Wolves climb to the summit of the league standings - with Burnley’s fixture postponed.
Hull started brightly and emerged on the frontfoot in the early stages, applying pressure with blocked shots and corners which forced Wolves into some prompt defending.
However, it took no time for Wolves to stamp their dominance on the contest, with the bulk of proceedings played in the Hull half. Both Sims and Beth Merrick fired narrowly wide of the target amidst the pressure.
Against the run of play, Hull broke the deadlock on 25 minutes. Defender Tugby-Andrew met a set-piece at the far post, and although her initial effort was saved by Alex Brooks, she was not to be denied a second time, bundling the ball home to give her side the lead.
The lead lasted just four minutes. Hughes flicked on a second ball into Merrick’s path, then following a few neat touches and a drop of the shoulder, she bent a low effort into the far corner.
McNamara’s side continued to enjoy the best chances and soon had their noses in front. Merrick struck again - her fourth in two games - with a spectacular 20-yard-effort, arrowed into the far corner leaving Abigail Wallace scrambling.
Wolves could have, and perhaps should have, gone into the break with a two-goal cushion. Charlotte Greengrass did excellently to work the ball to Hughes inside the six-yard-box, but after turning and shooting, her effort was denied by Wallace.
Half-Time | Hull 1-2 Wolves
Wolves wasted no time after the restart, striking twice in the opening eight minutes to all but put the contest to bed.
First, Louanne Worsey controlled Greengrass’ cross-field ball, before setting herself and curling a low effort past Wallace. Three minutes later, Merrick turned provider, driving down the left flank and pulling back a deft pass, allowing Sims to lash home her third of the season.
The visitors kept pushing for more, with Becky Anderson, Greengrass and Worsey all going close. Their persistence was rewarded just before the 70-minute mark, when Sims doubled her tally in style, drilling a superb left-footed effort into the side netting from inside the box.
Five soon became six, when Hughes netted her customary goal in Old Gold - her 98th for the club - adding salt to the Tigress’ wounds. She raced onto a through ball and stabbed her finish past the onrushing Wallace.
Despite a remarkable attacking display taking the main stage, Wolves continued to flex their defensive abilities, restricting their opponents to limited opportunities.
Finally, rounding off a spectacular goalscoring performance, substitute Abi Loydon stamped her mark on the game, scoring Wolves’ seventh and final goal of the afternoon. A short corner routine led to Loydon finding space on the left side of the penalty area, before arrowing a strike into the top-right corner.
Full-Time | Hull 1-7 Wolves
LINEUPS
Hull | Wallace, Hamill, Ackroyd, Hunt, Rugby-Andrew, Gigg, Haywood, Foyer, Nicholson, Sugden-Brook, Knight.
Unused Subs | Wattam, Wilson, Akrill, Gatt.
Wolves | Brooks, Harkin, Marshall, Hughes, Greengrass (Quigley 67), Johnson, Sims (Williams 79), Anderson (Loydon 67), Jenner, Merrick (Cross 79), Worsey (Grey 67).
Unused Subs | Thomas, Roberts.
