Report by SJG

LANCASHIRE F. A. CHALLENGE CUP

RADCLIFFE LADIES vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

19^th January 2025

LATICS ARE CUP GIANT KILLERS AND MARCH ON TO THE SEMI-FINALS.

Wigan Athletic Women booked their place in the Challenge Cup Semi Finals after an exciting victory at the home of Tier 6 side Radcliffe FC.  

It was a thrilling battle from the off, with both teams hungry to reach the Semi Finals and to make their respective Clubs proud. 

Latics opened the scoring after just seven minutes thanks to a Hassall strike. After picking the pocket of her marker, Cleary embarked on a solo run, taking it through the back line. Her one-on-one effort was parried away, but only into the path of HASSALL, who rolled it home. 

Emmerson Boyce’s side made it two not long after when Carr’s curling corner caused havoc in the home defence and the ball squirmed out of the unlucky keepers grasp as it dropped into the net via a defender’s head.

Nini Dada pulled the strings in midfield, taking time on the ball to allow Latics to swarm into the final third. She controlled the tempo of the game in both halves, which proved invaluable to her side. 

Amelia Knowles, in the Wigan goal, kept her opponents at bay throughout the first half by making crucial saves and rising above Radcliffe attackers to collect corner balls to snuff out potential threats. 

Half Time; Radcliffe Ladies 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Not long after the restart the Tic-ettes made it three. The imperious Dada threaded a perfectly weighted pass through the defence, giving CLEARY space to round the goalkeeper and slot it home. 

Radcliffe refused to give up on the tie and deservedly pulled a goal back through DUCKWORTH in the 54^th minute to set up the prospect of a grandstand finish.

Wigan were forced to defend well but they always carried a threat going forward and in the 80^th minute CLEARY picked up a loose ball in the final third and produced a fine forward surge that took her past defenders before she fired home to secure the win.

Latics now face a trip to Accrington in the semi finals with Bolton Ladies being paired with Preston North End Ladies in the other match-up.

Full Time; Radcliffe Ladies 1-4 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Hassall (7), Hanneffy (12, og), Cleary (46), (80); Duckworth (54);

Attendance; 500 est.

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

Referee; Mr. Paul Birt.