Superb Wolves power into Round Five
Reading FC Women 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
FAWNL Northern Division Wolverhampton Wanderers overcame Championship opponents Reading with a brilliant and totally deserved 2-
Trailing at the break despite dominating play, Wolves continued to press forward and were rewarded with two goals in the final twenty minutes. Brave on the ball, relentless in their closing down and calm at the back this was a true team performance.
Reading were penned back in their own half for much of the first ten minutes as every attempt to play out from the back was met with a challenge or an interception. Wolves probed and pressed forward but it was not until the 19th minute that Amber Hughes got clear of the home defence but her shot went wide.
Beth Merrick was next to threaten the Reading defence but her shot on the turn was blocked for a corner. The best chance fell to Olivia Fergusson who powered a header just wide from a left wing cross on the half hour.
Reading scored on 35 minutes from their first real attempt on goal as Madison Perry showed good composure to take the ball past keeper Shan Turner and fire home from a tight angle.
The match evened up as Reading started to find some space to release their speedy forwards but the lead at the half was scarcely deserved.
The pattern continued after the break with Reading keeper Emily Orman making the first of several fine saves to preserve the lead as Hughes and Tammi George had attempts from close range.
Merrick finally unlocked the Royals defence with a superb run down the left past two challenges before curling a shot beyond Orman on 70 minutes.
Jesse Woolley added some bite to the Reading attack on her debut but , apart from one effort from Tia Primmer well held by Turner, the game appeared destined for extra time.
However, to the delight of the vocal away support, Destiney Toussaint settled the tie with a fine far post header, rising highest to meet an Eloise Wilson cross from the right on 88 minutes.
Reading nearly equalised straight from the restart as a goalmouth scramble saw the ball roll inches wide with Turner beaten. However that was the last scare as Wolves saw out seven additional minutes with the same calm control which had marked the previous ninety.
Wolves therefore enter the last 16 of the Adobe Women's FA Cup alongside Nottingham Forest as the last remaining representatives of the FAWNL and were rewarded in the Fifth Round draw with a home tie against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Reading FC Women: Emily Orman, Rachel Dugdale, Halle Houssein, Caitlin Smith, Charlie Wellings, Tia Primmer, Madison Perry, Lauren Wade, Brooke Hendrix, Easther Mayi Kith, Charlie Estcourt. Subs: Eve Annets, Mae Hunt, Josie Longhurst, Jesse Woolley, Stevie Kennedy, Imogen Poile.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Shan Turner, Eloise Wilson, Anna Morphet, Tammi George, Merrick Will, Amber Hughes, Katie Johnson, Olivia Fergusson, Destiney Toussaint, Sophie Bramford, Beth Merrick. Subs: Anna Price, Emma Cross, Lexie Harrison, Jade Cross, Becky Thomas, Meesha Dudley-
Photos by www.jamesprickett.co.uk
