Plymouth 0 Wolves 1 (Greengrass 64)
Wolves Women overcame Plymouth Argyle Women in the FAWNL Play-Off final to ensure the Old Gold will be playing WSL 2 football next season.
Charlotte Greengrass’ clinical second-half finish was enough to seal promotion at the Pirelli Stadium after an eventful 90 minutes.
The final got underway in chaotic fashion, with Alex Brooks to thank for Wolves not falling behind early on. Phoebie Poole was gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead within the opening minute, but Brooks’ superb double-save maintained parity.
Moments later, Charlotte Greengrass forced Hermione Cull into early action with a testing long-range effort, but the Argyle shot-stopper was equal to it.
Chances continued to present themselves to both sides throughout the opening stages. Wolves asserted themselves through set-pieces, while Plymouth looked to catch McNamara’s side on the counter-attack.
Plymouth could have, and possibly should have, taken the lead just shy of the 20 minute mark. Exploiting the space in behind again, Olivia Francis surged through on goal, but could only drag her effort wide of the post. Moments later, Brooks was Wolves’ hero again, producing an excellent, diving save to deny Ellie Noble’s fierce effort.
Proceedings gradually calmed down approaching the break, with both sides enjoying more spells of possession rather than attempts at goal. Francis had the final chance of an eventful half, but an important intervention from Anna Morphet weakened the attempt for Brooks to gather.
Half-Time | Plymouth 0-0 Wolves
Wolves emerged from the break with greater intent, and dominated the early stages of the restart. First, Greengrass latched onto Beth Roberts’ perfect inswinging delivery, but headed straight at Cull.
Minutes later, the Wolves forward was presented with their best chance of the game. Greengrass did excellent to win possession high up the pitch before running through on goal, but with a composed finish, could only strike the post.
Wolves’ pressure in the second half never really waivered, and it paid off 20 minutes in. Greengrass’ hard work rewarded her with another chance, and this time, from a tight angle, she converted in emphatic fashion to give the Old Gold the lead with 25 minutes to play.
Plymouth began to apply more pressure to Wolves’ goal approaching the final 10 minutes. Paris Dalton fired an effort goalwards after pouncing on a mistake in the Wolves defence, but safe hands from Brooks denied the effort.
Seven minutes from time, Argyle had their best chance of the second half. Poole found herself unmarked in the six yard box and steered a volley goalwards, but excellent reactions from Brooks prevented the equaliser, before a crucial sliding challenge from Morphet blocked the rebound.
Wolves’ discipline was unfaltered throughout the closing stages of the tie, limiting Plymouth to few chances even when desperate for an equaliser.
The final whistle blew and McNamara’s side will be playing WSL 2 football next season.
Full-Time | Plymouth 0-1 Wolves
LINEUPS
Plymouth | Cull, Proctor (Lue 85), Poole, Kivel, Wilson (Smith 84), Stephens, Dalton, Noble, Francis (Wilcock 77), Teisar (Whitmore 85), Suttie.
Unused Subs | Stowell, Hampson, Papaioannou.
Wolves | Brooks, Harkin, Marshall, Morphet, Roberts, Anderson, George (Williams 90), Merrick (Johnson 84), Worsey (Sims 69), Hughes (Howe 90), Greengrass.
Unused Subs | Stocking, Quigley, Jenner.