Wolves Women 3 (Johnson 8’, Greengrass 51’ & Worsey 89’) Rugby Borough Women 7 (Mallon 7’ & 49’, Clarkson 19’, Moncaster 28’, Morris 50’, Apindia 75 & 78’)
Wolves Women fell to a disappointing 7-3 defeat to Rugby Borough in the Birmingham Challenge Cup Final.
Borough took the lead early on before Katie Johnson equalised within the first ten minutes at The Valley Stadium.
Charlotte Greengrass and Louanne Worsey scored consolation goals in the second half, but Wolves were defeated in Redditch.
After a cagey opening few minutes, it was Rugby who took the first chance of the final in the seventh minute. Sofia Mallon latched onto an inviting cross to poke home from close range.
However, Wolves responded almost straight away through Katie Johnson. Anna Morphet floated a deep free-kick into the box, which the midfielder nodded over Poppy Soper to level proceedings.
Soper was called into action just three minutes later as the Old Gold charged forward through Charlotte Greengrass.
The forward played in Chloe Williams, but she couldn’t get the ball out of her feet.
Against the run of play, Rugby retook the lead from a corner kick. Eve Clarkson headed home at the back post inside the 19th minute.
Things got worse for Wolves on the half-hour mark as Rugby extended their lead through Mai Moncaster. Malikia Apindia whipped an inviting ball into the box, which the midfielder converted past the outstretched leg of Alex Brooks.
Beth Merrick almost responded during the next attack, but her superb free kick hit the woodwork and was eventually cleared by Borough.
Both sides continued to push for more goals as the first half came to a close, but Wolves went into the break trailing 3-1.
Half Time | Wolves 1-3 Rugby
Rugby began the second half as they ended the first, scoring a quickfire double to inflict further damage on Wolves.
The first was fired home by Mallon before Katy Morris drove a powerful shot past Brooks and into the net.
However, Wolves were handed a lifeline in the 51st minute as Greengrass bundled the ball across Soper’s goal line.
The goals looked like they would continue to flow as Dan McNamara’s side searched for a way back into the encounter. A series of corners were well defended by Borough as the pressure on the leaders mounted.
In the 73rd minute, Merrick almost added a Wolves third, but Soper denied the forward from a tight angle to keep the score as it was.
Soon after, Rugby added a sixth goal through Malika Apindia. The left-sided player cut inside and curled a long-range effort past Brooks.
Apindia secured her brace just three minutes later as she nodded past Brooks from six yards out.
Louanne Worsey reduced the deficit with a minute to go, but Wolves were defeated in the cup final.
Full Time | Wolves 3-7 Rugby
Wolves | Brooks, Morphet, Marshall (Harkin 80’), George, Greengrass (Cross 80’), Johnson (Roberts 49’), Anderson, Williams (Quigley 49’), Jenner, Merrick (Loydon 80’), Worsey
Unused Subs | Stocking, Sims
Rugby | Soper, Mann, Cleverly (Barton 71’), Moncaster (Mosby 66’), Mallon, Potts (Camwell 77’), A.Brown, Apindia (Malone 82’), Morris, Clarkson, Hazard
Unused Subs | S.Morris, Greenslade, Upson
