It was the moment Wolverhampton Wanderers and everyone associated with the club had spent the last five years striving for.
The sun in Telford created a golden glow through which eleven history makers walked, one by one, from the tunnel to the pitch for their first-ever taste of the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 before a packed-out SEAH Stadium.
Every member of Dan McNamara’s starting lineup watched on as those enchanted fans, from awestruck adults to facepainted children, came together to unfurl a giant banner displaying the words ‘Wolves Ay We’, the club’s rallying cry.
In these Shropshire scenes a dream was realised, one that was crafted in 2021 as the Old Gold secured ‘upward movement’ to the third tier, the FA Women’s National League North, and one that was almost fulfilled in 2022 and 2025 as the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the second division.
But as soon as referee Joe Moss blew his whistle into the warm, September air on Sunday, Wolves homed in on their next dream: a first win in the BWSL2.
And so they ran, all eleven charges, through vociferous support from ‘Macca’s Barmy Army’ and after a Sheffield United side who – on paper – presented an opportunity to earn a maiden three points at this level.
However, the Blades – who finished 11th in the BWSL2 last season – looked at Wolves with the same feeling coursing through their veins, with both clubs expected to be involved in the intense scrap to avoid relegation to the third tier.
With that came an end-to-end first half in which both sides struck the post - Charlotte Greengrass the first to do so for Wolves before Ava Baker followed suit for United, with both sets of supporters struggling to catch their breath.
And so the second-half stage was set, with two evenly-matched teams searching for a heroine in a finely-poised contest in which victory would kick-start their seasons.
There was no shortage of contenders, from Wolves fan favourite Georgia Marshall to United taliswoman Amy Andrews, as the two sets of players returned to the field and the home side got play back under way.
A heroine familiar with the role emerged just three minutes after the restart, Amber Hughes sending the Wolves fans into raptures when curling the ball beyond United goalkeeper Sian Rogers and into the far corner.
It was fitting that Hughes was the one to score the Old Gold’s first-ever goal in the BWSL2, with the 33-year-old club legend having fired McNamara’s side to the second tier with an incredible 22 goals last season.
And the day would get even better for Hughes and her team-mates 13 minutes later.
Brave were the Wolves players who pursued a second goal over protecting the one they had, taking three shots in succession from outside the box, through Hollie Olding, Melisa Filis and then Amy Sims, whose stunning half-volley bulged the net.
Sims, like Hughes, thoroughly deserved her goal, for the 27-year-old team player performed admirably while playing out of position at right-back.
But like all great theatre there was a sharp twist in the tale, precisely two minutes after Wolves had built their two-goal cushion.
“Switch on,” bellowed McNamara to his players, his call answered as a Lucy Quinn free-kick brought a goal - and a lifeline – from Mollie Rouse, the United captain doing brilliantly to steer a loose ball beyond goalkeeper Emily Orman.
And so the Telford sunshine exited stage left, replaced by an overcast skyline as Wolves braced themselves for a United storm.
With an even greater share of possession Stephen Healy’s side marched on, going close to a leveller when another teasing set play from Quinn – this time a corner – found Gracie Pearse who headed over from close range.
With their backs against the wall Wolves needed another star to step up, and in Olivia Francis, Filis and Yana Daniels they had three.
Substitute Francis, on the pitch for a matter of seconds, was the heaven-sent release valve who held up possession before playing in the marauding Filis, whose quick feet engineered the passing angle to set Daniels clear.
Could the summer signing who helped Burnley pip Wolves to the National League North title last season hold her nerve when bearing down on goal?
Of course she could, with a calm touch and an equally composed finish, her left foot becoming the toast of Telford as Wolves secured lift off in the BWSL2.
As the final whistle sounded at SEAH Stadium, smiles broke out across the faces of everyone connected with Wolves, including long-serving manager McNamara, the architect of the club’s rise from the amateur leagues to fully-professional status.
“It’s an emotional day,” said McNamara at full-time. “It’s tough to win at this level. Honestly, it sounds crazy, but it’s tough to win BWSL2 football games. I thought the girls were magnificent, I thought they were absolutely unbelievable today.”
And so for that tough first win to come so soon into the 2026-27 season is a massive boost for Wolves, whose next fixture is a home clash against familiar foes Burnley on Friday, the perfect tie to follow a historic day in the sun.
