Dan McNamara was delighted with his Wolves Women squad after they beat Stoke City 2-0 in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup second round.
Late goals from Beth Merrick and Racheal Quigley capped off a hard-fought display in front of an 854-strong crowd at the SEAH Stadium.
McNamara gave his thoughts on the performance, Merrick and Quigley’s displays and the pressure of playing on national television whilst also entertaining a terrific Old Gold support.
On the performance
“You're never going to get an easy ride against Stoke. I said at half time, I don't really know how to describe the first half because I thought we controlled the game.
“But listen, we chatted at half-time and we regrouped in the second half. When you've got players of Beth Merrick, Racheal Quigley, Charlotte Greengrass, Simsy [Amy Sims] and Chloe [Williams], the list goes on - when you've got those kind of players in the dressing room, someone will always find a way to unlock [the opposition defence].
On Beth Merrick’s goal
“I have to admit, I thought the full-backs dealt with Beth really well all game, but that one moment you allow her to come inside the pitch and that's the kind of quality she's got.
“I’m delighted for her. We talked about a little bit of magic at Compton before we left, and she's obviously produced that tonight.
“But listen, overall, I don't think it was about the individuals. I thought they defended really well for the whole game. I thought Georgia Marshall was outstanding. I think she rightly picked up the player of the match.”
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On the game being shown on national television
“Yeah, listen, it's always going to affect it, isn't it? It affected the staff, so it's definitely going to affect the players. But in the end, I thought they dealt with it really well.
“As I said, in the first half, other than a couple of moments, I thought we controlled it well; we just were probably victims of our own mistakes. We were turning the ball over too easily in midfield and then giving them what they wanted.
But we tided that up in the second half, but yeah, the cameras and the audience and the crowd definitely got to the girls, but I thought they dealt with it really well in the end, and as I said, another experience and another memory made.”
On the impact of Racheal Quigley
“Two games in two weeks, Quigs [Quigley] has come on and changed the game. She arguably won us the game at the weekend and Amber [Hughes] finished it, but this evening, she's gone on the pitch and secured the win for us and progressed to the next round.
“That's what she does, Quigs is outstanding. She's really starting to find her feet this season. I think she's a huge part of our group, and the girls are delighted for her as well.
On the season-high support at the SEAH Stadium
“It’s brilliant to see a lot of faces from the club as well. You know, the hierarchy and the various HR all coming to support the girls, so big thanks to them, and also the new and the existing crowd that come week on week.
“When that goal went in, I think it nearly matched the roar from Sunday, and it really does help.
“The songs they are producing for the girls give you that little bit more in those tougher moments.
“I thought the crowd were fantastic again tonight, and hopefully the girls have done them proud before we move on to Sunday against Derby.”
On the rest of the weekend
“We spoke about what this weekend looked like. They're [the players] away now, they're off. We'll see them on Tuesday.
“I think they've been magnificent for the first part of the season, so four days away for them and they can go and do whatever they want with their weekends.
“The staff are the same, and I know there are a few flights to catch tomorrow morning. I want everybody just to reset, just to go away and forget about everything because come Tuesday, all eyes will be on Derby, because that's a new huge weekend for us in regards to league action.”
