AFC Sudbury 0 Wolves Women 3 (Quigley 40, Merrick 52, Greengrass 78)
Wolves Women cruised into the last eight of the FA WNL Cup with a 3-0 win over AFC Sudbury on Sunday afternoon.
Despite traffic issues delaying the Old Gold’s journey, Racheal Quigley headed Dan McNamara’s side into a first half lead before Beth Merrick and Charlotte Greengrass added goals in the second period.
Merrick came close to an early opener for Wolves inside just two minutes when she beat the goalkeeper to Abbi Jenner’s lofted ball but could only head just wide of the mark.
Wolves continue to probe in the early exchanges as Jade Cross’ attempted lob hit the roof the not, before Merrick had another effort from the edge of the box just wide.
After a cagey first half where the Old Gold could have been early, Milly Robertson’s neat one-two with Quigley hit the side was a sign of what was to come just minutes later.
With Sudbury’s resolute low-block finally beaten, Quigley nodded home from close range with five minutes remaining of the first half to break the deadlock.
Half-time | AFC Sudbury 0-1 Wolves
The second period started much the same as the first with Wolves quick out the blocks on the hunt for the second.
Quigley was close to a second when she volleyed the ball over the bar from close range after the ball fell to her from a corner.
However the second did come seven minutes into the second period as the Australian forward performed a smart chop midway inside the Sudbury half before threading the ball into the on-rushing Merrick, who took a touch before rolling the ball home.
Wolves could have been further ahead just after the hour mark as Cross was spectacularly denied twice on the line by combination of goalkeeper and defender as the ball fell to her kindly from close range.
McNamara made two quickfire double changes and it wasn’t long before two of those impact substitutions combined to add the Old Gold’s third of the match with just over 10 minutes to go.
Amber Hughes picked up the ball on the right hand side and smartly held off her defender to the by-line, where she squared the ball to Charlotte Greengrass to poke the ball under the goalkeeper.
Full-time | AFC Sudbury 0-3 Wolves
AFC Sudbury: Frary, Penny, Jeffery, Frazzoni, Slater, Rogers, Allen, Harrison, Morton, Edwards, Barrett.
Subs: Peachy, Bezant, Nagib, Harding, Loomes.
Wolves: Brooks, Morphet, Robertson, Cross (Hughes), Loydon, Quigley (Hughes), Anderson, Roberts, Williams, Jenner (Sims), Merrick (Worsey).
Subs: Harkin, Marshall.
