Report by SJG

NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BURNLEY BELVEDERE

15^th December 2024

TIC-ETTES EXTEND 100% RECORD WITH FIVE GOAL ROUT.

Wigan Athletic Women end 2024 on a high note by defeating Burnley Belvedere at home.  The team were without their talismanic goalscoring hero Ellie Cleary but they made light of her absence, with Avagrace Hodson grabbing another hat-trick alongside a debut goal from Emily Firman and a rocket from Molly Hassall. 

New signing Sophie Whelan made her debut in midfield, with Hodson retaining her place up front. Amelia Knowles kept her place between the sticks after a run of show-stopping performances. 

Latics opened the scoring early after a brilliant piece of skill. Nini Dada threaded a beautiful ball into the box, giving HODSON room to round the keeper and slot the ball home. 

Latics made it two inside 20 minutes, this time courtesy of Molly HASSALL. The Burnley Belvedere goalkeeper spilled the original shot by the Latics player and Hassall pounced and calmly knocked the ball into the net. 

The Tics were a well-oiled machine throughout the first half, stringing passes together and creating key plays out of nothing. The midfield link-up between Dada and Izzy Worswick acted as both a first line of defence and attack, adding a much-needed element of versatility. Whelan pulled the strings nicely to keep things ticking over in the engine room and was often involved in Wigan attacks.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Burnley Belvedere.

At half-time, captain Abbie Moore replaced Libby McCoy for her long-awaited return from injury to further solidify the back line.

The second of Latics’ new signings, Emily Firman, controlled the right flank, easily getting the ball forwards and showing excellent technical ability. 

HODSON got her second of the day just after the hour mark; a cool strike into the bottom left-hand corner after isolating herself in the box. 

It didn’t take long for FIRMAN to open up her account, bagging herself a dream debut goal. Our new number 20 did well to keep the ball in play by the corner flag before shifting the ball onto her strong foot and pulling the trigger. The strike rose above the net and dipped over the head of the goalkeeper, giving Emmerson Boyce’s side their fourth goal of the afternoon. 

Almost instantly after the restart, HODSON made it five, making it seven goals in two games for the 16-year-old. 

Latics Women now sign off for the Christmas break but will look to continue their winning ways in 2025.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 5-0 Burnley Belvedere.

Scorers; Hodson (2), (63), (79); Hassall (22), Firman (76);

Attendance; 500 est.

Teams; WIGAN— (4-3-3); Knowles; Merican, McCoy, Hastie, Heslip; Carr, Dada, Whelan; Worswick, Hassall, Hodson; Subs; --- Moore (for McCoy), Moseley, Scott, Firman, Baker.

Referee; Mr. David Baker.