Report by SJG

NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

FLEETWOOD TOWN WRENS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

9^th February 2025

TIC-ETTES NOTCH 100 GOALS FOR THE SEASON AS THEY BLOW AWAY THE WRENS.

Wigan Athletic Women scored their 100th goal as they recorded another resounding victory over Fleetwood Town Wrens.

The 8-1 victory on the Fylde Coast strengthened the teams grip on first place in the Lancashire Women’s County League.

The usual suspects, Molly Hassall, Ellie Cleary, and Avagrace Hodson (2) got their names onto the scoresheet alongside a trio of new signings Alyson Hastie, Emily Firman (2), and Sophie Whelan.

Manager Emmerson Boyce made six changes to last week’s winning XI. Amelia Knowles, Sara Merican, Emily Firman, Sophie Whelan all returned to the starting lineup in place of Faye Moseley, Nini Dada, Tegen Baker, and Poppy Twist. Captain Abbie Moore made her long-awaited return from injury and striker Avagrace Hodson also got the nod after missing last week's victory over Sir Tom Finney FC. 

It was Wigan Athletic who struck first, thanks to FIRMAN, who opened the scoring with a tidy strike, curling the ball past the outstretched goalkeeper after being played into space by Hassall. 

Latics got their second just seven minutes later, courtesy of HODSON. After a scramble inside the box, the number nine got a foot to the ball and poked it home. 

The home side responded well and pulled a goal back a minute before half-time to set the game up for an intriguing second half.

Half Time; Fleetwood Town Wrens 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Any thoughts that the late first half goal would be the preface to a stirring revival were quickly quashed as Latics took control of the proceedings straight from kick-off. The team showed prowess, passion, and determination, and looked every inch a side riding high in the table. 

After just two minutes, Latics scored once more. After getting hacked down in the final third, Cleary won a free-kick. She took it quickly, laying it off to FIRMAN, who fired home from long range. The well struck shot dipped through the air, leaving the opposition goalkeeper with no chance. 

Hodson then netted her second straight from the restart. Latics intercepted the ball in the middle of the park, driving forward and laying it on a plate for HODSON to smash it into the net. 

In the 59th minute, Hastie got her second goal in Latics colours. Cleary’s corner ball spun high above the sea of Fleetwood defenders and HASTIE rose to meet it, nodding it home with pinpoint precision.

It was a matter of when, not if, CLEARY would get her goal after spending the lion’s share of the game creating chances and assisting her teammates. The attacker used her fast feet to cut into the box and strike the ball past the goalkeeper on the hour mark. 

New signing WHELAN got her first for the club in the 73rd minute. As she sprinted along the sidelines, the ball was fizzed into her path. She took a moment to set herself, eyeing the exposed goal, and struck the ball with her laces, her teammates watching in awe as it roared through the air and rippled the back of the net. It was later revealed that the goal was the Club’s 100th, and the quality strike was fitting of the accolade. 

With 10 minutes to go, HASSALL got her goal. The number eight pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard-box and coolly knocked it past the goalkeeper. 

Wigan Athletic Women could and perhaps should have had added further to their goal tally with Heslip forcing a fine save from the home keeper after neat work from Hassall had created her space on the edge of the box.

Emmerson Boyce’s side will now turn their attention to next week’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Accrington Stanley Women.

Full Time; Fleetwood Town Wrens 1-8 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Firman (10), (49), Hodson (17), (51), Hastie (54), Cleary (59), Whelan (73), Hassall (81); Tack (45);

Attendance; 200 est.

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

Referee; Mr. Tom Taylor