Loughborough Students Ladies 3 (Newton 18, Ronald 29, Shepherd71)

Wolves Women 3 (Everiss 8 pen, 56 pen, Ledgister 55)

A hard-fought game on a cold and blustery day saw both sides battling, with the game swinging one way then the other, but ending honours even.

Wolves dominated the first 15 minutes, and continuous early pressure led to them being awarded a penalty in the eighth minute as Anne Johnson was brought down. Hayley Everiss (pictured) stepped up and converted to put the visitors into the lead.

Everiss's pinpoint deliveries were causing the home side problems at every corner, with Anne Johnson, Penny Andrea and Nicole Ledgister all coming close.

Loughborough changed their formation to 4-4-2 after 15 minutes to counteract Wolves' dominance and this had immediate effect. Loughborough forced their first corner of the game and Rachel Newton took her chance to make it 1-1.

Wolves came close just three minutes later from an Everiss free kick, which was headed on by Johnson, but stopped by the keeper. On 29 minutes Loughborough went ahead with a goal from Sarah Ronald, beating Wolves' back line with a ball over the top.

H-T: Loughborough Students Ladies 2Wolves Women 1

Wolves tried to lift the tempo of the game once more, but as in the first half, the home side fought back, shooting just wide on 48 minutes. Just a minute later Wolves forced a corner, but Everiss's cross went unpunished by Wolves' forwards as the ball skipped along the goal line. On 52 minutes Wolves keeper Natalie Hall was forced to make a diving save, and pushed the ball just wide.

Three minutes later Ledgister picked up the ball on the half way line and, with a tremendous individual effort, ran at the Loughborough defence, skipping over tackles and beating one player after another until she found herself in a position just outside the area where she let fly a stinging shot which burst through the back of the net to bring Wolves level.

The goal gave the players the impetus to push forward yet again and right from the kick-off Johnson picked up a loose ball and, having moved it forward to Penny Andrea, was brought down by a late tackle. As Wolves were in possession of the ball the referee allowed play to continue, and another foul from Loughborough, this time in the penalty area, gave Wolves their second penalty of the game. This too was duly dispatched by Everiss to put Wolves 3-2 ahead.

The game swung backwards and forwards, and in the 71^st minute Loughborough were awarded a corner, which was converted by Alex Shepherd to even the score. Both sides continually sought the winning goal, but had to settle for a point.

Wolves Women Manager Dave Ball said: "This was a game which could have gone either way, but I was pleased with the way we battled back from being a goal behind, and I'm satisfied with a point in the end."

Next Sunday Wolves turn their attention to the fourth round of the Birmingham County Cup when they take on Withymoor Ladies. The game will be played at Goodrich Sports Stadium, Stafford Road, Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, with a 2.30pm kick-off.