Bolton Wanderers Women made it nine league wins from nine, and 12 from 12 in all competitions, with a 2-0 win at Nantwich Town on Sunday. Head Coach Tom Cunniff called it the performance of the season. On Saturday he takes his side to Harrogate Town Women in the Women’s FA Cup.
Patience against the toughest test
Cunniff had called the trip to fourth-placed Nantwich his side’s toughest test yet. Nantwich set up to defend and made Wanderers work for every opening.
“They were a good team, very well organised,” said Cunniff. “They clearly went with a more defensive game plan, which shows us a lot of respect. That made me happy, but it made it harder for us. In my opinion it was the performance of the season, from start to finish. For 90 minutes we were relentless. We were always on the front foot, always attacking.”
Wanderers missed big chances in the first half and it was goalless at the break. Cunniff’s message was to stay calm.
“We said at half-time that we’re doing all the right things,” he said. “It’s that bit of quality in the final third where we just need to be calm and composed. We’ll get it, but you’ve got to be patient, keep doing what you’re doing and not get frustrated.”
He admits doubts did creep in.
“There was a bit of a moment where I thought, is it one of them days when nothing goes in? But even in the warm-up the finishing is superb, so you know it’s there. You just need that one bit of composure, and that one goal settles everything down.”
Faye’s brave finish
The breakthrough came in the 74th minute. A corner was cleared out of the box, Maddie Leigh set it back to Lily Weston, and Weston put a brilliant ball back in. Faye Stanhope threw herself at a bouncing ball at the back post to score.
“That is not a Faye-style goal at all,” said Cunniff. “I’m really proud of how she showed the bravery to get on the end of it, because it changed the day for all of us. It got us the win.
“Faye’s been superb. That consistency at this stage of the season is down to playing more minutes and starting games. She’s very direct, very fast and can play off both feet. She’s a brilliant crosser of the ball and a good finisher. She’s a brilliant player to have and I think she’s coming into her own now.”
Molly steps up
Minutes later, Lauren Sharples drove through and was fouled for a penalty. Molly Wood stepped up and scored.
“Lauren was brilliant, driving through. She got fouled and got us the penalty,” said Cunniff. “Then Molly stepped up, very composed. We know what we get with Molly in terms of professionalism and composure and she steps up in the big moments. She’s the top goalscorer in the league from a wide position.”
Wood finished Sunday’s game at left back after Leigh went off injured.
Perfect so far
“When you think right back to the beginning, if you’d said we’d win 12 games, I’d have wanted that and believed in the players,” said Cunniff. “But it’s very hard at any level of football to be perfect like that for 12 games. We take every game exactly the same. That’s how we prepare every week and the players do the same. They don’t take their foot off the gas. They prepare the same way and go out every game like it’s a division above.
“It’s an amazing achievement, and something I don’t think we’ve ever done before, not dropping any points or losing, even in the cup competitions so far. We’re really proud of that.”
The games that show the squad
Cunniff says a hard-fought win tells him more about his squad than the double-figure scorelines earlier in the season.
“By far,” he said. “There’s been a togetherness in this team all season, but even more so on Sunday. You saw the celebrations when the first goal went in. That’s the relief, because of how hard we worked for that one goal. They sat off us for periods of the game, so we had to find new ways to win. It was an intriguing game, trying to figure the opposition out. They were by far our toughest opponent of the season and the players just kept going and kept going, and the hard work paid off in the end.
“Those are the games we want to be part of. We’ll be part of a lot more like that this season, and if we do get promoted, it’ll be like that week in, week out next season.”
A teatime kick-off at Harrogate
Saturday’s First Round Proper tie takes Wanderers to Harrogate Town Women, a side they have never played. Harrogate drew last weekend and lost to Rotherham the week before.
“They’re not going into this in form, but they’ve only had a few games compared to us, so it doesn’t tell the full story,” said Cunniff. “We’ve got a bit of information on them and we respect them like we do everyone. But we go with our game plan, keep kicking on the way we are and hopefully win and get through to the next round. That would be the furthest Bolton have ever got in this competition.”
The 5.30pm kick-off changes the routine.
“We have to treat the actual game like a normal game, but it does feel different. Even the players are saying that, because we’re away as well, so there’s a bit of travel,” he said. “In terms of the match we keep everything the same. It’s the preparation before, like the food, and getting meals in at suitable times so we’re alert for kick-off. We’re usually finished by five, so starting at half five will feel a bit different.
“We’ve got all that planned this week, and I’m actually really excited. I think the players are too, because it is something different. It’s a Saturday, it’s a teatime kick-off, and it’s away against a team in a league we’ve never played before. It’s a really good challenge. It mixes things up and keeps us on our toes.”
Two games in two days
The men’s team host Middlesbrough at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Friday, so supporters can see both teams in two days.
“I’d love as many supporters as possible to be there,” said Cunniff. “I know it’s a bit of a drive, but we’d love it. It doesn’t happen often that the men play on a Friday and then we play on a Saturday, so it’s a really good opportunity: two games in two days, and two really good fixtures.”
Harrogate Town Women v Wanderers kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday at the Marcy Fitness Stadium.
(Photos by Keira Peacock)