Liverpool Feds 0 Wolves 4 (Hughes 5, Worsey 10, Merrick 45+5, Sims 65)
Wolves Women kicked off their 2025/26 FAWNL campaign with an emphatic victory over Liverpool Feds Women on Sunday afternoon.
It was a day of debut delight for Dan McNamara’s side, as two of his new recruits were on the scoresheet. Amber Hughes opened the scoring inside five minutes before Louanna Worsey scored her first in old gold to double Wolves’ advantage after 10 minutes.
Beth Merrick sent Wolves into the break three goals to the good with a deft finish deep into first-half injury time, before Amy Sims marked her debut with a goal to put the points out of Feds’ reach.
McNamara named five new signings in his starting line-up, all of which would contribute to a superb opening day victory.
Shot stopper Alex Brooks’ career in old gold got off to a flyer as she provided the assist for Wolves’ opening goal of the campaign inside five minutes - courtesy of familiar goal scorer Hughes. The forward gambled on a long ball which sat up perfectly for her to smash home a half-volley.
Just minutes later, a fellow Wolves debutant also impressed in her first outing, as Worsey soon doubled the away side’s advantage. Abbi Jenner split the Feds defence and set Worsey through on goal, with the winger neatly finishing a composed effort.
McNamara could not have asked for a better start to his side’s campaign, and two could soon have become three when Hughes went through on goal again. However, this time Liz Hobson was equal to the effort with an outstretched boot.
Feds’ best chance of the half came from Ellie Fletcher’s inviting delivery, met by Katie Anderson arriving at the back post. However, she could only stab her effort wide of the post, with Brooks still untested in the Wolves net.
Worsey continued to enjoy her debut, coming close to adding an assist after her square ball across the face of goal found Sims, whose strike narrowly missed the top corner.
Five minutes into stoppage time, Worsey this time did notch an assist when she delivered a cross to the far post where Merrick was able to sneak home Wolves’ third of the game.
Half-time | Liverpool Feds 0-3 Wolves
Wolves emerged from the interval full of energy and continued to stifle their opposition. The first chance of the second half fell to Hughes, who danced into the penalty area, taking on several Feds defenders, before scooping an effort goalwards that trickled inches past the post.
20 minutes into the second half, Wolves grabbed their fourth of the game. Sims’ combative performance in midfield was rewarded when she played a one-two with Cross down the right flank, before advancing into the penalty area and clinically finishing into the bottom corner.
Every new recruit played a positive role in a coordinated performance that saw McNamara’s side remain comfortable throughout the contest, dominating possession while preventing Brooks in net from being forced into a save.
Despite the resolute defensive display, Feds did have a chance to earn themselves a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time. However, substitute Charlotte Greengrass was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball off the line.
McNamara’s side showed excellent maturity in their game management with the contest coming to a close, and Wolves have every right to be optimistic ahead of the rest of their campaign after their opening day victory.
Full-time | Liverpool Feds 0-4 Wolves
Feds | Hobson, Jukes, Carrington, Fryer (Cole 78), Fletcher, Thompson (Brady 68), Parry (Boydell 68), Smith (Crook 59), Coulthard, Fisher (Willis 78), Anderson.
Unused subs | N/A
Wolves | Brooks, Harkin, Marshall (Johnson 70), Hughes (Williams 70), Quigley (Greengrass 60), Sims (Loydon 80), Anderson, Roberts, Jenner, Merrick, Worsey (Cross 60).
Unused subs | Thomas, MacPhail.
By Callum Greybanks
