Bolton Wanderers Women exited the Alliance Design and Print Cup following a battling 2-1 defeat at home this to fellow North West Women’s Regional League side Mancunian Unity.
The two sides had faced one another last weekend, where they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in the league, but this afternoon would see Unity come out on top, and head into the next round of the Alliance Design and Print Cup.
Three changes to the starting eleven from last weekend, including Molly Philpott making her first starting appearance for Wanderers.
Unity started on the front foot and applied early pressure. Annabelle White was forced into a strong save inside five minutes as the visitors pressed high, before Unity’s Debbie Price attempted an ambitious bicycle kick soon after which failed to trouble the net.
Wanderers responded well and started to create more opportunities and applying pressure to Unity. On nine minutes, Abbie Brown went for goal, forcing the Unity goalkeeper to rush out and block, before a second attempt from the opposite side of the box went just wide.
However, 19 minutes in Unity would take the lead. Liv Reid’s goal kick travelled the length of the pitch to find Liv Shaw, who played through to find Debbie Price and converted for the visitors.
It didn’t take Wanderers long to get back into the game though; Molly Philpott would put Wanderers right back into the game just after the half hour mark. Abbie Brown’s delivery found Molly in the box, who slotted it home for Wanderers.
Unity did try to respond quickly, with a chance from Debbie Price, but her shot went sailing wide of the goal, causing no real issues for Annabelle White.
Wanderers almost doubled their advantage just before half-time as Abbie Brown struck a free kick from the edge of the box, but the effort failed to find the target, leaving the sides level at half time.
The second half was more of a physical battle than the first, but Wanderers dug deep whilst they hunted for another goal.
Wanderers then went close again on 49 minutes when Abbie Brown’s effort was tipped by the Unity goalkeeper, who did well to regain control after the ball looked to be heading over the line.
Molly Philpott drove into the box on 54 minutes, but with the angle tight, Abbie Brown was unable to get on the end of the chance. Unity continued to threaten and on the hour mark, when Debbie Price blazed an effort over the bar.
It was looking like the match would go into extra time, as neither side could break the deadlock, however on the 93rd minute, Libby Taylor picked out Ella Barnes who converted for the visitors, and sealing their place in the next round of the Alliance Design and Print Cup much to Wanderers frustration.
Wanderers: White, Leigh, Walsh (C), Smith, McDonald, Philpott, Dale, Wallis, Plano, Brown, Tweedle
Subs: Wilkinson, Rigby, Tyers, Cambell, Hodson
Mancunian Unity: Reid, Russell, Jardine, Etchells, Ince, Shaw, Plant, Purslow, Price, Kershaw, Barnes
Subs: Mitchell, Taylor, Mackie, Hancock, Owens
Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.