Report by SJG

NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

TOM FINNEY XI LADIES vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

27^th October 2024

UNBEATEN RUN CONTINUES AS TIC-ETTES WIN AGAIN.

Latics maintain their undefeated run with a 5-1 victory on the road against Sir Tom Finney Women as Emmerson Boyce’s side took all three points from the U. C. Lan. Sports Arena.  Ellie Cleary again netted a double with Izzy Worswick and Avagrace Hodson also scoring.

Goalkeeper Faye Moseley was the only change to the starting line-up from the impressive 18-2 win against Blackburn Eagles in the Challenge Cup.

The bleak weather conditions made for a tough game on the road as the rain was persistent virtually throughout the 90 minutes but the action on the pitch was non-stop.

The match opened with a scrappy start as Latics held most of the possession in the first 10 minutes. The centre-back duo of Libby McCoy and captain Abbie Moore again looked solid and gave a great defensive display, dominating the game from the first whistle.

The early attacking forays by Hassall and Cleary were thwarted by the Finney defence but the Wigans on field dominance was rewarded in the 14^th minute. Cleary was tackled by the Finney defenders but the ball broke to WORSWICK and she struck a low drive that found the home net.

Eight minutes later, CLEARY netted a goal of her own, slotting it calmly past the goalkeeper after a solo run.

The floodgates had opened and CLEARY quickly bagged her brace, coolly dribbling round the home keeper and rolling the ball home.

Hodson thought she had added herself to the scoresheet with the ball in the net just before the break, but Cleary was ruled to be offside and interfering with play so the goal did not stand.

Half Time; Tom Finney XI 0-3 Wigan Athletic.

The home side pulled one back in under two minutes of the second half when a rare defensive lapse from Latics lead to the ball looping over goalkeeper Amelia Knowles’ head, and McCoy was just unable to recover and stop EMMETT from applying the finish.

Laura Heslip, who had brought pace and vision up the left side, found herself on the end of a great cross by Worswick but she can consider herself unlucky not to record a goal as the defence scrambled to clear.

HODSON got Latics back on track as she broke through the Finney back line in a quality solo run to take her one-on-one with the keeper before scoring her first of the game.

Both managers made a number of changes around the hour mark and the game became dis-jointed but the Tic-ettes had not finished and a Cleary through ball found HODSON who slotted home her second with a clinical finish.

Hodson almost made it a hat-trick as Worswick’s cross picked her out of the crowd in the box, but it wasn’t meant to be as her header was just off target.

Molly Hassall had one last chance to add her name to the list of scorers in the game with a powerful shot that went just over the crossbar.

Emmerson Boyce’s side left with another win on the road to keep up their pursuit of the top place in the Lancashire County Women’s League. Latics hope to record their 10th victory in a row next week as they face Fleetwood Town Wrens Ladies at home.

Full Time; Tom Finney XI 1-5 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Worswick (14), Cleary (22), (39), Hodson (55), (79); Emmett (47);

Attendance; 100 est.

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

Referee; Mr. Gorani Peyman.