Bolton Wanderers Women secured their place in the Challenge Cup Final with an assured 2-0 victory over Preston North End Women at Victory Park on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Eboni Bradshaw and Faye Knox ensured the Whites' progression to the showpiece event in April, in a Semi Final win that - despite both goals coming inside the final 20 minutes - was the perfect reaction to their defeat to Poulton Vics a week earlier.
Annabelle White's return from injury in-goal and captain Katie Holt's first appearance since the previous round win over Wigan Athletic in January were part of four changes made to the starting line-up - with Lexi Williams forming up the back-line with Madison Hardman leading the Whites' line as the other changes.
Wanting to start on the front-foot, the rhythm of the game was set in the opening stages with the visitors happy to let Wanderers have the majority of the possession, whilst waiting to capitalise at the other end of the pitch.
North End, however, were resilient in their approach throughout and much like the league meeting between the two sides earlier in the campaign, PNE stood firm to a lot of what Wanderers threw at them on the attacking front.
It turned out to be Preston, also, who were presented with the first opportunity of the afternoon as Madison Hadley cut inside and fired a powerful effort towards goal, but White was alert to make a strong save down to her right-hand side.
Whilst putting themselves into attacking areas, Myles Smith's side struggled to carve out clear-cut chances inside the opening 25 minutes but remained patient in their approach.
A move that started with Holt at the back, then involving Neishai Gordon, Millie Smith and Faye Knox in a typically flowing Wanderers' move ended with Knox floating a ball over the top looking for the run of Eboni Bradshaw - a combination the hosts will rely on later in the encounter - but Emily Gibbins was quick to react in-goal to thwart the danger.
Chances were at a premium in the opening half, however, but the Whites forced an opportunity as Bradshaw, after some excellent work from Millie Smith, found Hardman down the right-hand channel. Hardman stretched to get her effort away from a tight angle, but went wide of Gibbins' post.
Katie Woodhead's long-range effort for North End was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock, but White was comfortable behind the strike.
Then, on the brink of half-time, Neishai Gordon - who was brilliant all afternoon in crowded areas to drive Wanderers forward - burst into space and let fly with a powerful strike that looked destined for the bottom corner but Gibbins was at full stretch to push the effort away from danger and keep the scores level at the break.
Wanderers went into the second half with the introduction of Hannah Baldwin off-the-bench as she continues her way back to full-match fitness after a long injury lay-off, and they continued to press forward.
However, Caitlin Clarke had to be at her best to make an outstanding recovery tackle inside the opening stages of the second 45, preventing Alicia Scott from getting a shot on goal after breaking behind the Wanderers' backline.
But much like the first half, chances would not be free-flowing, with Eleanor Seals' long-range strike the only notable opportunity for either side as the game headed into the final 20 minutes.
Chloe Ardin, Lily Barnes and Emme Shone were brought into the action in an attempt to turn the game in the hosts' favour - with all three contributing hugely to the tempo being raised in the middle of the park as Wanderers upped the ante on their opponents.
The pressure was starting to tell and with a stunning piece of play, the Whites had their breakthrough. With a similar looking play that happened in the first half, Knox was given space to deliver a beautiful ball into the Preston penalty area and Bradshaw made the perfect run to keep herself onside and deftly flick the cross into the far corner - clipping the post on its way in.
It was no more than Wanderers deserved, and it gave the hosts a calmness and confidence to go and seal victory with their second goal, five minutes later.
Seals' corner from the right was perfect and into a dangerous area. Knox, who assisted the first, rose highest to head home through a number of bodies to double the lead and hand Wanderers complete control in the tie.
As the game worked itself into the final 10 minutes, Myles Smith's side managed the game efficiently to not allow any late drama from the visitors, with Knox even pushing for a third Bolton goal at the other end after brilliantly beating two defenders before firing wide.
With that, the place in the Challenge Cup Final was secured, where Wanderers will face divisional rivals Accrington Stanley in a hugely anticipated tie on Thursday 10th April at the County Ground, Lancashire FA HQ.
With a week without a fixture ahead of them, Wanderers will use it to refresh and regroup ahead of a huge run of league fixtures ahead of them.
Wanderers: White, L. Williams, Holt (C), Clarke, Bradshaw, M. Smith, Seals, Knox, Tyers, Gordon, Hardman.
Subs: Ebanks, Baldwin, Ardin, Barnes, Shone.
Preston: Gibbins, Tunstall, Griffiths, Stevens, Jones, Hadley, Woodhead (C), Hindle, Pike, Scott, Wolfenden
Subs: Cronshaw, Wright, Skiba, Ball
Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.