Report by SJG

NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs TOM FINNEY F.C. LADIES

2^nd February 2025

TEN WITHOUT REPLY AS TIC-ETTES GO GOAL CRAZY.

Latics Women defeated Sir Tom Finney FC on home soil to continue their impressive unbeaten run.

Goals from Ellie Cleary (6), Molly Hassall (3), and Tegan Baker gave Emmerson Boyce’s side the well-deserved victory. 

Poppy Twist made her first start for the Club, Faye Moseley replaced Amelia Knowles between the sticks, and Laura Heslip replaced Izzy Worswick at right wing. 

Latics started strongly, with Heslip immediately taking the ball down the right flank and playing in Alyson Hastie, whose powerful strike was deflected wide. Shortly after, Cleary pickpocketed her opponent and drove down the pitch, but her shot was saved by the goalkeeper. 

This opening sequence set the tone for the rest of the half, in which Latics found the back of the net eight times. CLEARY was rewarded for her persistence as the number 17 found space behind the backline with a well-timed run and fired home. 

Tegen BAKER then got a well-deserved goal after 11 minutes. The number 12 pounced on a free ball at the edge of the box and hammered it past the outstretched goalkeeper. Baker had a brilliant first half, winning her battles, and creating key chances with a fine range of passes that almost resulted in a goal. 

CLEARY netted again after a nice bit of skill in the engine room caught Sir Tom Finney FC off guard, giving her the chance to round the goalkeeper and place the ball in the net. 

Heslip had a goal disallowed minutes later after Cleary selflessly laid it on a plate but the attacking wide player had just strayed offside. Heslip shone in her role as a forward and a goal would’ve cemented it as her best performance in a Latics shirt to date. 

Sunday’s captain Molly HASSALL bagged the first of two goals in quick succession. The first strike was a neat, close-range strike. Her second was the result of a piece of Cleary magic. 

Cleary did well to keep the ball when swarmed by her opponents, before beating them using a series of stepovers and drag backs. HASSALL ran in behind the defence to meet the ball and pass it into the open goal. 

Wigan’s sixth came courtesy of CLEARY, who once again used her pace to peel away and take a shot, giving the goalkeeper no chance. 

Just moments later, CLEARY embarked on a solo run from the halfway line, snaking her way through the defence and flicking the ball into the bottom corner using the outside of her boot. 

Immediately after the restart, Latics were back on the attack, not wanting to rest on their laurels. CLEARY timed her run into the box perfectly and took the ball in her stride before lashing it into the goal. 

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 8-0 Sir Tom Finney XI.

In the 59th minute, Wigan Athletic Women made it nine. Hassall got her third almost instantly after returning to the pitch after a brief intermission. Substitute Izzy Worswick and Cleary worked together to move the ball forward, fizzing it past the defenders and into the path of HASSALL who, when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, made no mistake with a nice side foot finish. 

CLEARY sixth goal of the game meant Latics hit double figures, an achievement well-received by the home fans, who were already on their feet as the goal machine took the ball into the box before producing another assured finish. 

Wigan Athletic Women will look to extend their unbelievable unbeaten run further against Fleetwood Town Wrens on Sunday 9 February 2025.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 10-0 Sir Tom Finney XI.

Scorers; Cleary (6), (15), (29), (35), (39), (61), Baker (11), Hassall (17), (18), (59);

Attendance; 500 est.

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

Referee; Mr. David Long.