Bolton Wanderers Women were beaten in a hard-fought and physical encounter as they were unable to repeat their derby success from earlier in the season.
Wanderers claimed all three points in the first encounter at Gigg Lane last October as Tom Cunniff racked up three successive wins in his first three games in charge of the Whites.
However, an Ava Hanson hat-trick denied Wanderers a double as they remain third in the North-West Women’s Regional League Premier Division – 10 points off the top two.
Cuniff made two changes to his squad, with Maddison Hardman returning and named amongst the substitutes alongside Aimee Woodward.
Both sides showed early flashes as the intensity of the derby quickly became evident but it was Bury who began to assert control and applied sustained pressure to force Wanderers onto the back foot.
And despite defensive resilience from the Whites, Hanson broke the deadlock mid-way through the first half to turn that pressure into a 32nd- minute with her first of the afternoon.
Wanderers looked to respond, with Abbie Brown and Ella Tweedle attempting to link play in attacking areas but the pair couldn’t help their side find a breakthrough.
Bury continued to threaten and doubled their advantage on 42 minutes, Hanson converting from close range to give the visitors a two-goal lead to take into the break.
Cuniff introduced Flo Rigby and Woodward at the start of the second half as Woodward made her first-team debut and, showing an improved energy, Wanderers began to press higher up the pitch.
They couldn’t reduce the deficit, though, and it was Bury who struck again to make 3–0 with Hanson completing her hat-trick bang on the hour mark at Lostock.
Milla Hodson was introduced shortly after, injecting new life into the Whites and providing immediate impetus down the wing. As the half progressed, Madison Hardman and Charlotte Tyers were also brought on as Wanderers made two more changes in an effort to pull something back.
The Whites continued to push, with Hodson showing great determination and delivering several dangerous balls into the area aimed at Brown before the pressure eventually told in the 89th minute.
A well-delivered cross from Hodson found Brown inside the box where she fired home to pull one back. Wanderers continued to press but couldn’t turn their late surge into further goals as their winless run extended to three games.
Wanderers: White, Leigh, Walsh (C), McDonald, Wallis, Smith, Dale, Philpott, Plano, Brown, Tweedle. Subs: Hardman, Woodward, Rigby, Hodson, Tyers.
Bury: Groves, Bailey (C), Nugent, Speight, Blythe, Clarke, F. Smith, Wheeler, Neasham, Cook, Hanson. Subs: Williams, Parker, Alldread, Wharton, Onyejjaka.
Report: Eleanor Anderson. Pictures: Jake Horrocks.
Watch reaction from head coach Tom Cunniff and goalkeeper Annabelle White on Wanderers TV