Report by SJG

NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

BURNLEY BELVEDERE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

22^nd September 2024

WINNING START CONTINUES FOR THE TIC-ETTES.

Wigan Athletic Women clinched their fifth straight win to keep up the fight for the top spot in the league.

An impressive display in front of goal is becoming common, especially for Ellie Cleary and Molly Hassall who took turns scoring before Izzy Worswick sealed the result with her first goal with the team.

Emmerson Boyce named an unchanged starting line-up from last week’s Lancaster City victory, though the bench went without goalkeeper Amelia Knowles due to illness.

It was an energetic start to the match with goalmouth action at both ends of the pitch. The Wigan centre back pairing of Abbie Moore and Libby McCoy worked well to block the persistent opposition and protect Moseley in the Latics goal.

The scoring was opened, once again, by CLEARY who scooped the ball from the defender’s feet and jinked her way up the pitch past no fewer than four players before slotting it past the goalkeeper.

It only took 90 seconds for Latics to double their lead. A great through ball from midfield found HASSALL who sent the keeper the wrong way before scoring in the open net. With a two-goal lead inside ten minutes the Tic-ettes relaxed into their passing style but tended to sit deep and as a result they did not add to their advantage before the break.

Half Time; Burnley Belvedere 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

An encouraging half-time talk proved fruitful as Emmerson Boyce’s side returned to the pitch with a new energy, scoring again straight off the break.

In the 46^th minute Avagrace Hodson managed to scoop in a cross off of the floor and left HASSALL with a simple tap-in to secure her first brace of the season.

Tegen Baker was causing problems for the Burnley defence as she raided down both flanks to good effect, but it was Burnley who came close to scoring in the 56th minute with a good shot that was well saved by the safe hands of Faye Moseley.

The home side did break through just after the hour mark with a curling strike from LAUTERBACH-PLUCKWELL that found the top corner of the Latics net.

Wigan responded quickly, and this time it was CLEARY who deceived the keeper and rolled the ball into the unguarded net.

Following a series of opportunities, Cleary’s next shot on target was saved before Izzy WORSWICK took advantage of a fortunate deflection to hammer the ball into the back of the net – her first goal for the team.

In the final minutes, a great save from the Burnley keeper narrowly prevented a Hassall hat-trick.

Overall, it was a scrappy win that stretched Latics’ undefeated streak and made it five wins out of five. They remain in second place, just behind Blackburn Community Sports Club Reserves on goal difference.

Full Time; Burnley Belvedere 1-5 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Cleary (7), (64), Hassall (9), (46), Worswick (80); Lauterbach-Pluckwell (73);

Attendance; 150 (est).

Teams; WIGAN— (4-3-3) Moseley; Worswick, McCoy, Moore, Merican; Carr, Heslip; Hassall; Scott, Cleary; Hodson; Subs; --- Dada, Baker, Twist, Black, Knowles

Referee; Mr Assad Muhammad