A 5-1 win at Tranmere Rovers on Sunday put Bolton Wanderers Women into the First Round Proper of the Women's FA Cup. That equals the furthest the club has ever gone in the competition. It was also Tom Cunniff's side's 10th win in 10 games this season, and on Sunday they return to the same ground for a league game.
Ella Tweedle opened the scoring. Tranmere equalised, and Poppy Wallis put Wanderers back in front just before half-time. In the second half Abbie Brown made it 3-1, Lily Weston added a fourth and Brown completed the scoring. The scoreline makes it look easier than it was.
"I think we just edged the first half, so being a goal up was probably right, but we were frustrated with ourselves," Cunniff said. "It was a really strange venue, but a really good, professional performance."
A pitch that changes the game
The problem was the size of the pitch. Wanderers like to move the ball and stretch teams and there was very little room to do either. It was also the first time Cunniff had won at the ground as a coach or manager.
"The pitch is so narrow. It's a different kind of game, because the balls we try to play just run straight through. The spaces aren't the ones we're used to, so it took us a bit of time to get into the game. It was very compact centrally and you can't really stretch the pitch."
At half-time he kept his message simple.
"I reiterated to them that we're not playing our best and we're still finding a way. Keep our heads, stick to the game plan, use every inch of the pitch and the chances will come. You just have to be patient."
The second half was all Wanderers. "The way we moved the ball second half was very good," he said. "The game plan was to frustrate them physically and mentally, so that when they're tired, they still can't get the ball."
Picked for the day
Cunniff picks his team for each opponent, and a big performance doesn't guarantee a place the following week. In the cup he can name seven substitutes but make only five changes, and he admits that is the hardest part of the job.
"You're letting two players down before you've even set off," he said. "But we've got a great team in terms of work ethic and understanding. We pick each team depending on what we think is right for that opponent. It's never anything personal. It's always what's best for the team on that day."
Two players who have accepted that are Ella Tweedle and Poppy Wallis. Both started every game last season and both scored on Sunday.
"Ella was our top scorer last year and her all-round game is really coming on now, not just the goals," said Cunniff. "She's very talented and hopefully there's a big future here. Poppy is in a similar boat. They're best mates with a really good understanding, and with more experience around them this year they'll learn so much. We see them as a massive part of the future of Bolton, and that's never changed."
One goes up
Seven league games have brought seven wins. Last season Wanderers won 10 league games in total and finished third. Only one club goes up and Cunniff says the players feel the pressure of the run more than he does.
"I don't feel the pressure, but I think some players do. I like that they want to keep it going, but there's a fine line. We will drop points at some stage this season. We just want to win the league, whether that's losing games or going unbeaten. If we don't drop too many points, it's in our hands."
Tranmere again, but not the same game
Sunday's league game is at the same ground against the same opponents. Cunniff says supporters should expect a different Wanderers, because he planned the cup tie with this game in mind.
"We actually did something on Sunday on purpose, knowing the league game was the week after," he said. "The league is our priority, so you'll see a different style this weekend. It's something we've been working on in training for the last couple of weeks. It's important the opposition doesn't know what's coming, and in my opinion that pitch suits a certain formation."
After that comes Harrogate Town Women in the cup. Monday night's draw was shown live on YouTube and the two clubs have never met.
"It's good to see us on the screen and the name Bolton Wanderers out there," said Cunniff. "We've pushed the women's team more than ever, and the further we go, the more we build our profile."
(The game will be played at Ellesmere Port, Kick Off 2pm)