Watford 1-4 Wolves
(O’Leary 42 – Cross 9, Darby 52, Morphet 72, Palmer 76)
Women’s Fa Cup – 11/4/21 – 3pm
Kings Langley FC
Wolves – Thomas, Darby, E.Cross, Morphet, Price (C), Walker (Evans 63), George (Dicken 87), J.Cross, Edwards (Conlan 63), Palmer, Miller.
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Watford – Wiggins, Bell (Holt, 84), Meiwald (Stojko-Down, 61), Huggins, Vyse (Harney, 73), Chandler, Ali, Beckett, Fatuga-Dada (C), O’Leary (Smith, 84), Kmita.
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Wolves went away with no fear and left with all the glory. four different scorers but a squad full of winners as they progressed into the next round of the Women’s Fa Cup.
Wolves travelled away for the second week to a team in a higher division in the Women’s FA Cup as they visited Watford from the Southern National Premier League but once again Daniel McNamara’s team went into the game with no fear and came away with all the spoils. The game got underway with the scene set with Snow, Rain, Sun, Snow all season within in 90 minutes of a Cup tie. The difference in the leagues was show with Wolves being a 8/1 underdog before the game kicked off with the bookmakers.
It wasn’t long before Jade Cross was putting the fear into the defence with her pace, like roadrunner burning up the turf which lead to the opening goal on the 9th minute. A mistake between the Watford defender and Chrissie Wiggins saw Jade Cross nick the ball off the goalkeeper and go past her before jabbing it into the corner of the goal giving Wolves the perfect start and a 0-1 lead early on in the game. This seemed to settle Wolves as they controlled the game and pressured Watford constantly while they continued to try and play out from the back. Against the run of play Watford pulled level on the 42nd minute with some clever play working way through the Wolves defence from the wing, Francesca Ali picked out Katie O’Leary who finished clinically to pull her team level at 1-1. Wolves nearly regained the lead on the 44th minute as Alisha Miller pulled the ball across the box and as Tammi George unleashed her effort it cannoned off the crossbar, but the scores remained 1-1 at half time as the players went for the break.
All to play for in the second half with 45 minutes to book a place in the next round of the Women’s FA Cup. It pretty much started the same way the first half had been contended with Wolves in the ascendency but the lead was regained when Anna Morphet picked out Kelly Darby at the far post who hit it home on the volley with a side foot to make it 1-2 on the 52nd minute. The goal seemed to take the sting out of The Hornets as Wolves looked as if they would add to the total with efforts by Jade Cross & Jamila Palmer. And this would be what happened when Tammi George was brought down in the area as she moved the ball resulting in a penalty to Wolves on the 72nd minute. Who would step up to take it? Wolves own deadshot herself Anna Morphet who has magic in her boots wether it too pick out a pass or strike a set piece, so yes 1-3 to Wolves as Anna Morphet smashed the ball home but in the celebration looked like she had hurt herself, I do wonder if she smashed the floor as well but thankfully she was all good.
And now with a pack mentality Wolves went in for the kill to finish off the opponent as it was less than 5 minutes later before the score became 1-4 to Wolves when Jamila Palmer like the whole game had been hitting rockets from outside the box but her effort was too hot to handle for Chrissie Wiggins as the ball went underneath her and into the net on the 76th minute. As you can imagine Watford were deflated with this quickfire double but still tried until the final whistle but couldn’t and wasn’t allowed to get anything going by Wolves who walked out 1-4 winners and move onto to play Blackburn Rovers at home in the next round of the Women’s FA Cup. A Championship team but I wouldn’t count out this team as they go into the game.
For me everyone on the Wolves team put in another shift and a half but I see that Jade Cross got the official player of the match, which she truly deserves and would be in my decision for my player of the match but for me it was… DeadShot aka Anna Morphet she had Watford’s captain and playermaker running at her all game and kept her quiet but also chipped in with an assist and a goal. It’s been a long time that Anna Morphet puts in quality performances one after another you almost don’t look for it as you expect it.
