Wolves 4 (Merrick 5, Hughes 32, Jenner 34 & Williams 86) Sporting Khalsa 1 (Wickett 79)
Wolves Women secured a 4-1 victory over Sporting Khalsa on Wednesday evening at the SEAH Stadium in the FAWNL.
Goals from Beth Merrick and Amber Hughes preceded a brilliant effort from Abbi Jenner, who scored from 40 yards before Chloe Williams added a fourth after Khalsa grabbed a consolation.
The result continues Wolves’ impressive unbeaten run and marks the second game in a busy seven days for the Old Gold.
The hosts immediately started on the front foot, Merrick prodding home an opening goal from close range to give Wolves the lead in the fifth minute.
Dan McNamara’s side looked to build on the early lead, creating multiple chances in the following minutes, but Khalsa held firm.
However, the hosts had their second just before the half-hour mark. Hughes netted after a melee in the box led to Chloe Williams’ effort deflecting into the path of the forward who duly converted.
Just under two minutes later, the Old Gold made it three through an Jenner wonder strike. The defender stepped over the halfway line before hitting a thunderous effort past Poppy Irvine.
Jenner was surrounded by teammates, who were just as stunned as the Wolves faithful at the SEAH Stadium.
Wolves looked for a third as the interval approached, but the hosts went into the break with a three-goal advantage.
Half Time | Wolves 3-0 Sporting Khalsa
The second half started as the first ended, as Amber Hughes pounced on a loose pass by Khalsa before laying off Beth Roberts, who curled an effort just wide of Irvine’s goal.
Hughes nearly doubled her tally in what proved to be her last act of the night, as she picked up the ball in the final third prior to firing a powerful shot over the Khalsa crossbar.
Khalsa defended deep for the remainder of the second half, but made a rare venture forward in the 79th minute as Daisy Wickett slotted under Alex Brooks to breach the Wolves defence.
However, Wolves went on and wrapped up the tie in the dying embers as Charlotte Greengrass threaded a precise pass to Williams, who tapped home from just yards out.
The hosts probed for more goals, but the final whistle blew on another victory for the Old Gold in Telford.
Full Time | Wolves 4-1 Sporting Khalsa
Wolves | Brooks, Morphet, Robertson (Worsey 63), Marshall, Loydon, Hughes (Greengrass 52), Johnson (Anderson 52), Roberts, Williams, Jenner (Harkin 83), Merrick (Cross 56)
Unused Subs | Thomas, Sims
Sporting Khalsa | Irvine, Thompson-Moulding, Tweedie, Cann, Axten, Davies, Walker (Smith 75), Winters (Tomlins 70), Wickett, Acton (Philpott 66), Stubbs
Unused Subs | Smith, Bott, Sinclair, Busher
By Harry Cooper-Smith
