Manchester United players celebrate scoring a goal against WolvesGetty Images
Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport

Welsh teenager Mared Griffiths scored twice on her Manchester United debut as the Women's FA Cup holders cruised past Wolves and into quarter-finals of the competition.

The 17-year-old took advantage of a mistake by home keeper Bec Thomas to tap into the net just 10 minutes after being introduced as a late second half substitute, and then swivelled to volley through the keeper for a second goal in added time.

United dominated the game, with hosts Wolves indebted to keeper Thomas and some wayward finishing for being just two goals behind at the break.

When the opener arrived through Elisabeth Terland on 26 minutes, the result already looked beyond Wolves.

Leah Galton then produced a smart finish to outwit Thomas at her near post for the second 10 minutes later.

Defender Aoife Mannion ghosted in to score a rare goal, before England attacker Ella Toone curled home the fourth - her sixth goal in five games. Griffiths struck her first two minutes from time before rounding off an impressive success for her side.

"We know people would expect us to win this game but for us it's about attitude," said United boss Marc Skinner.

"We want to get back to the final. We know we have tougher tasks coming ahead but tonight we acquitted ourselves fantastically.

"We have two competitions now. In the league we are going well and in the cup we have gone well as well. We will see who we get in the draw but for us it is a priority to get our fans back to Wembley."

It was a tough afternoon for third-tier Wolves, who had been on a run of 11 wins and a draw leading into the tie.

Their ultimate focus for the season remains promotion from National League North, with a top-of-the-table showdown against Nottingham Forest due in a fortnight's time.

United are the second team through to the last eight after Aston Villa beat Brighton 3-2 in the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

Griffiths enjoys dream start with late impact

Griffiths rolls home her first goal for UnitedPA Media

Griffiths joined Manchester United's under-21 set up last summer

As first-team debuts go, Griffiths' first United outing could hardly have gone any better.

The Wales international only joined the club last summer, signing for the under-21s team from the Wales Football Association's Academy North set-up.

Having replaced Malard on 81 minutes, the young winger took just seven minutes to open her goalscoring account for the Red Devils.

Seven minutes later Griffiths had bagged herself another, showing quick instincts to volley on the turn with a fierce shot that Wolves stopper Thomas was unable to keep out.

"Manchester United is built on youth players and it is built on the future of youth," said Skinner.

"For us it is the right time to put them in. Tonight felt like the right time and she has snatched one and got lucky on another, but if you don't shoot you don't score."

It has been a season of firsts for Griffiths, who came off the bench to make her senior international debut for Wales in the first leg of their Euro 2025 play-off against the Republic of Ireland back in November.

After passing her senior club debut with flying colours on Saturday, it will surely be only a matter of time before we see her feature for club and country on a regular basis.

Player of the match

E. Toone
8.19
13 B. Thomas
5.51
17 K. Johnson
5.46
19 B. Anderson
5.36
21 D. Toussaint
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7 T. George
5.30
22 B. Roberts
5.29
28 B. Merrick
5.29
27 A. Jenner
5.12
3 A. Morphet
5.09
9 J. Cross
5.03
12 C. Greengrass
4.97
11 A. Hughes
4.94
23 J. Smith
4.82
4 S. Holmes
4.76
6 L. Simkin
4.71
16 R. Quigley
4.68
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