Halifax 0 Wolves 2 (Hughes 3 Worsey 8)
Wolves Women secured all three points in West Yorkshire as they overcame Halifax Women on Sunday afternoon.
Dan McNamara’s side extended their unbeaten start to the season at the Myra Shay, with early goals from Amber Hughes and Louanne Worsey setting Wolves on their way to victory.
A goalless second half followed, but a strong defensive display saw Wolves earn their clean sheet and all three points.
Visiting a ground where the hosts held second-placed Burnley to a goalless draw, Wolves showed their teeth early on. The ball was kept alive following a corner and Hughes peeled off the last line of defence, heading past Crosbie to break the deadlock three minutes in.
One became two within just five minutes, when Amy Sims did well down the right hand side and pulled a cross to Worsey midway into the penalty box. The winger applied a calm finishing touch, rippling the net with a first-time effort.
Wolves continued to dominate proceedings and came close to a third on a couple of occasions through Beth Merrick, firing wide before also rattling the upright from a tight angle.
The hosts struggled to threaten Alex Brooks in the Wolves goal throughout the first half, with Davenport firing over their first effort at goal just shy of the half-hour mark.
Though not striking at goal very often, Halifax did provide a threat on the counter-attack. Momentum failed to shift into Halifax’s favour, however, with attacks led by Crompton and Shaw failing to puncture Wolves’ defence.
Wolves continued to search for their third of the afternoon and Hughes came close on the stroke of half-time. Worsey did excellently to improvise her way out of a tricky situation down the right flank before delivering into the box, met by an unmarked Hughes who headed wide of the mark.
Half-Time | Halifax 0-2 Wolves
Charlotte Greengrass was first to try her luck in the second half when she met Lindsey Harkin’s searching ball down the right channel, but her half volley was comfortable for Crosbie to deny.
Halifax continued to search for a way back into the contest, but came no closer than Crompton’s wayward effort midway through the second half.
Proceedings grew scrappy as the half wore on, with chances gradually becoming few and far between for both sides.
As the final stages approached, Wolves carved out a golden opportunity to all but seal the three points. Hughes slipped Greengrass through on goal, but the forward failed to keep her effort on target.
Wolves’ attempt to seal all three points with a third goal seemed elusive, as substitute Racheal Quigley had a sight of goal following a corner, but her close-range effort was cleared off the line.
Stoppage time expired and Wolves saw out all three points with a convincing display away from home.
Full-Time | Halifax 0-2 Wolves
LINEUPS
Halifax | Crosbie, Hollin, Phillips, Cass, Shaw (Chan 71), O’Connor (Strickland 83), Horner, Settle, Crompton (Jacobs 79), Davenport (Burke 57), Ashton.
Unused Subs | Groves, Davies.
Wolves | Brooks, Harkin (Morphet 85), Marshall, Jenner, Worsey, Johnson (Robertson 70), Anderson, Merrick (Roberts 70), Sims, Hughes (Quigley 78), Greengrass (Williams 78).
Unused Subs | Thomas, Loydon.
