Bolton Wanderers Women head into the semi-finals of the County Cup after a battling performance against Wigan Athletic 0-2. The local rivalry between both sides added extra intensity to the fixture, which would see Bolton come out on top.
Myles Smith’s team headed into the game following a 9-1 win over Fleetwood Town Wrens last weekend in the league and hoped to continue to bring their winning streak into cup action.
The match proved to be a hard-fought and physically intense encounter, with both teams battling it out from the first whistle. However, Bolton came away with a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Jess Lightfoot and Faye Knox.
The first half saw both sides struggle to break down the opposition defence. Madi Hardman had an early chance for Bolton in the third minute, but her effort was denied by the Wigan keeper.
Wigan responded with a chance of their own in the 7th minute, a defensive mistake from Bolton was nearly punished, but Annabelle White pulled off a vital save to keep the scores level.
The match quickly became a physical battle, with both teams fighting and challenging for every ball. On the 14th minute, Wigan had another opportunity but White was on top form to save before the rebound was fired over the bar.
Just moments later, a through ball from Faye Knox to Neishai Gordon looked like Wanderers were about to go into the lead. Gordon went one-on-one with the Wigan keeper, they clattered into each other and the opportunity went.
Charlotte Tyers' corner in the 21st minute caused some chaos in the box, but the ball was eventually cleared by Wigan’s defence. Knox also came close with a shot in the 25th minute, but it just went wide after Hawthorn got a touch to it.
The first half continued to be a physical battle for both teams but with Bolton having the better of the chances. Frustration struck Wanderers shortly before the break as a great ball from Eleanor Seals through to Gordon was adjudged to be offside before the forward could go one-on-one.
As the half drew to a close, Bolton almost benefitted from a lucky deflection from a Bradshaw cross into the box, that nearly turned into an own goal by Wigan, but to Wigan’s relief, the deflection went narrowly wide.
After half time, Bolton won a free kick after a foul on Jess Lightfoot. Knox took a shot over the Wigan wall, but sadly was denied by the keeper.
On the 71st minute, Bolton opened the scoring. Millie Smith broke down the right-hand side and slid the ball into Jess Lightfoot’s path, who rifled into the roof of the net to put Wanderers into the lead with less than twenty minutes to play.
Bolton continued to keep the pressure onto the Wigan defence and just moments later Bradshaw had a chance to double the lead but the Wigan keeper stood tall to keep the hosts in the tie.
Faye Knox sealed the teams place into the semi-finals when she got the second of the afternoon on the 83rd minute. The ball fell on the edge of the box and Knox, without hesitation, fired a powerful shot from distance which flew over the Wigan keeper and into the back of the net.
It was a hard-fought and physical encounter, but Bolton’s resilience and clinical finishing in the second half secured a well-earned 2-0 victory over Wigan.
Wanderers return to league action next weekend as they return home to the Dreams2Reality Stadium to face Morecambe FC.
Wanderers: White (GK), L. Williams, Holt (C), Clarke, Bradshaw, M.Smith, Seals, Knox, Gordon, Tyers, Hardman.
Subs: E.Smith, Ardin, Hodson, Shone, Lightfoot.
Wigan: Hawthorn (GK), Kava, Brisco, Allen, Green, Purslow, Melvin, Davies, Taylor, Bagshaw, Holden
Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.
