Report by SJG

LANCASHIRE F. A. CHALLENGE CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BLACKBURN EAGLES

20^th October 2024

TIC-ETTES GO GOAL CRAZY IN CUP

Latics continued their winning streak at home against Blackburn Eagles in their first Challenge Cup game on Sunday 20th October at Robin Park Arena.

The goals flowed as Wigan strolled into the next round with an impressive and ruthless display as they romped to an 18-2 victory.

Latics made two changes from their 6-0 win over Chipping FC a fortnight ago, with Sara Merican and Hodson replacing Holly Scott and Tegen Baker in the starting line-up. 

It was goals galore for Emmerson Boyce’s side as goals from Ellie Cleary (6), Izzy Worswick (2), Molly Hassall (3), Grace Carr (4), Avagrace Hodson (2) and an own goal sealed a record-breaking win. 

With less than a minute on the clock, Cleary got the Tics’ Challenge Cup campaign up and running. After her run was intelligently found by Hassall, CLEARY fired a superb finish off the inside of the post. 

It was the first of five goals for Cleary inside the opening 15 minutes, as the Latics’ leading scorer showcased her ruthless finishing ability. 

Her second goal was certainly the pick of the bunch, as after winning possession in the final third, CLEARY danced past multiple defenders before slotting home. 

The sixth goal was very fortuitous from Latics’ perceptive, as Cleary’s pull-back was diverted into the back of the net by the away defender, BAUER.

HASSALL made it seventh heaven in the 28th minute, latching onto a perfect ball through before picking out the far corner with a shot on the bounce. 

Two minutes later, CLEARY had a double hat-trick, rounding the Blackburn Eagles goalkeeper before converting from a tight angle. 

A short corner routine allowed CARR to fire a beautiful strike into the top left corner before WORSWICK completed the first-half scoring following some unselfish play from Hassall. 

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 10-0 Blackburn Eagles.

It was more of the same for Latics in the second half, who showed no signs of slowing down. 

CARR blasted a low strike from the left of the penalty area beyond the goalkeeper in the 50th minute before HODSON netted her first of the game two minutes later after some excellent wing play from Laura Heslip. 

WORSWICK helped herself to another goal in the 55th minute, as after being fed through by Hassall, her strike was too powerful for the opposition goalkeeper. 

Blackburn Eagles pulled two quick-fire goals back - including a wind-swept goal from the goalkeeper BALL - but Latics quickly got themselves back on the goal trail. 

After being fouled inside the area, HASSALL blasted an unstoppable penalty into the top corner, before setting up HODSON for a confident finish across the goalkeeper. 

CARR and HASSALL both netted their hat-tricks with two fine finishes before the former put the icing on the cake with her fourth. 

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 18-2 Blackburn Eagles.

Scorers; Cleary (2), (4), (10), (12), (15), (30), Hassall (28), (60), (84) Hodson (52), (76), Worswick (42), (55), Carr (39), (50), (83), (90), Bauer (20, og); Beames (54), Ball (56);

Attendance; 500 est.

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

Referee; Mr. Ben Clegg.