Report by SJG

NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

LOSTOCK ST. GERARDS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

29^th September 2024

TIC-ETTES GO NAP AS THEY CLAIM TOP SPOT.

It was goals galore in Lostock as Wigan Athletic Women confidently recorded their biggest victory yet in their third consecutive win on the road.

Ellie Cleary continues her rich run of form as she netted five times taking her count to 14 for the season with a truly sensational performance. Fellow attackers Avagrace Hodson and Izzy Worswick shone in front of goal too, as the defence lined up to maintain their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

Amelia Knowles returned between the sticks and Laura Heslip joined the defence as manager Emmerson Boyce made two changes to the starting line-up.

Lostock St Gerards opened the match with heavy possession and made Latics work for the ball in the opening minutes. However, once the visitors found their rhythm, they quickly found the route to goal.

A great assist from Sara Merican saw the defender playing a neat scooped ball over the home defence and it picked out CLEARY who calmly slotted it into the net.

Just six minutes later, and Hodson picked out the space for CLEARY with a threaded pass through the back line, leaving the number 17 to double the lead. Three minutes later and Cleary turned provider as she picked out her strike partner at the back post and HODSON fired home.

Wigan continued to outclass their opponents and WORWICK made it five after good build up play had seen Cleary turn provider with a neat pass. Then on the stroke of half time Latics added a sixth. The home defence could do nothing to stop Worswick and she produced a precise assist that left CLEARY in space to calmly bag her second hat-trick of the season.

The Lostock keeper was forced into a flurry of good saves before half-time as the Tics kept the chances coming until the whistle.

Half Time; Lostock St Gerards 0-5 Wigan Athletic.

Less than a minute after the break, CLEARY continued to add to her tally by neatly tapping the ball in from the box after a fabulous run up the pitch by Tegen Baker.

Wigans intensity finally dropped and the Lostock defence coped better with the clever movement of the Wigan players. However, there was no getting in the way of the striker CLEARY as she won the ball again and took it on a dizzying solo run before making it seven in total.

Grace Carr came close to writing her name on the scoreboard multiple times, delivering fantastic corners and firing shot after shot at the keeper.

The team excelled on the pitch and took home all three points, with wonderful performances from every player on the pitch.

The huge result worked to shorten the goal difference and Latics moved to the top of the Lancashire Women's County League following the postponement of their rivals' match. All focus turns to next week’s fixture where we welcome Chipping Ladies to our home ground in search of retaining the top spot.

Full Time; Lostock St Gerards 0-7 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Cleary (11), (17), (36), (46), (57), Hodson (20), Worwick (38);

Attendance; 150 est.

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

Referee; Mr. Jack Lewis.