Women's Report | Wanderers 4 Morecambe 0

women's report

In tough playing conditions due to the weather, Bolton Wanderers Women earned a hard-fought 4-0 victory over Morecambe on Sunday afternoon at the Dreams2Reality Stadium. 

The win takes Wanderers' perfect winning run in the Division One North to 14 games, cementing their place at the top of the table with a six-point cushion over their promotion rivals. 

It was the Whites' first fixture in front of supporters at home - with the home fixture against Fleetwood moved to Lostock due to the weather - and arrived into today's game full of confidence following the 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic last weekend in the County Cup Quarter Final. 

Myles Smith made three changes to the side that started against Wigan, with Erin Smith and Jess Lightfoot coming back in to the starting XI alongside Eve Ebanks in-goal, replacing Annabelle White, Katie Holt and Madison Hardman. Flo Rigby also returned to the matchday squad, being named on the bench for Wanderers. 

The game kicked off with Bolton showing early promise and looking to secure an early breakthrough. 

In the early minutes, a slick move that started from Wanderers' own box involving Faye Knox and Eleanor Seals ended with Eboni Bradshaw setting up Jess Lightfoot - but her shot was denied by her namesake Lightfoot in the goal. 

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morecambe pics

The attacking pressure continued from the Whites, and a brilliant ball from Seals opened up the space for Jess Lightfoot to chase the ball down and cut back inside. She set the ball perfectly for Bradshaw to come charging onto the pass to fire a curling effort towards the top-right corner, but a spectacular save denied her the opening goal. 

From the resulting corner, a routine was worked to Faye Knox on the edge of the penalty area to hit first-time but the strike was comfortable for Lightfoot. 

Wanderers were starting to find their groove, and Neishai Gordon threaded a ball perfectly through for Lightfoot to latch onto for Wanderers, but the Morecambe 'keeper made a save to deny Jess with a outstretched leg to turn the ball away from goal. 

As the half wore on, the breakthrough was looking more and more likely - with Knox picking out Gordon at the near post with her effort turned behind - but Wanderers had to wait until added time to find the breakthrough. 

A well-weighted pass from Lexi Williams sent Lightfoot through on-goal, and the forward finished confidently into the bottom corner to give Myles Smith's side a deserved lead at the break.

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morecambe women

With the one-goal advantage behind them, Wanderers made a change at the break as Emme Shone was introduced in place of Millie Smith and they came out for the second half with attacking intent and looked to take early control of the game.

A brilliant flick inside the early moment of the second 45 from Eboni Bradshaw played Neishai Gordon through on-goal, but the shot could only find the side netting. 

Bradshaw was becoming a focal point for Wanderers as the game progressed, and she was picked out by Faye Knox nicely to create another chance - with Eboni's touch expertly taking her away from her defender to get her shot away but a decent save denied her, before Charlotte Tyers' rebound was well blocked in a crowded area. 

Tyers was involved again and had an opportunity to extend the lead after good work from Jess Lightfoot down the right allowed her to pick out the attacking midfielder in the area unmarked, but her effort looped over the bar. 

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Morecambe were standing firm in the second half despite being under immense pressure, with Lightfoot in-goal producing a string of impressive saves to keep the Whites at bay. She was at full stretch once again to claw away Caitlin Clarke's goal-bound effort from the edge of the area after being teed up by Erin Smith, but the 'keeper somehow made a brilliant save at full stretch to tip over the bar. 

Erin Smith then came close on the following corner, dragging her effort wide after an Eleanor Seals ball into the area had caused all sorts of problems, but her driven left-footed effort skidded wide through a number of bodies. 

Despite opening up their opponents and creating a number of chances, the scoreline remained at 1-0, with the away side offering reminders to the hosts of the threat they posed, including a long-range attempt that Eve Ebanks was safe behind. 

The goal Wanderers had craved eventually came inside the final 20 minutes, with the ever-impressive Bradshaw getting her name on the scoresheet. 

A precise through ball from Faye Knox split the Morecambe defence and sent Bradshaw racing ahead, and she beat the 'keeper to the ball to calmly slotted the ball home and double Wanderers' lead.

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Further changes were made as Madi Hardman, Milla Hodson Flo Rigby and Chloe Ardin were all brought on to inject energy heading into the closing stages, and it was Ardin who almost added to the Whites' tally.

Another brilliant ball from Knox allowed Ardin to go through on-goal, but a fantastic last-ditch block from the defender ensured her shot was diverted away from goal. 

But Wanderers didn't have to wait long to add a third. Emme Shone made a driving run from deep to kickstart the move. She picked out Ardin, who then did brilliantly to beat her defender with a display of strength and set up Neishai Gordon one-v-one, and she applied a clinical finish.

With victory secured, Wanderers still had time to add a fourth as substitute Madi Hardman rounded off the afternoon in the 89th minute. 

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A lovely, chipped ball over the top from Flo Rigby fell nicely Hardman to run onto, and she coolly finished into the bottom corner to seal victory. 

Wanderers Women are next in action next weekend (2nd February) when hosting Blackpool F.C. Girls and Ladies at the Dreams2Reality Stadium.

Wanderers: Ebanks (GK), L. Williams ©, E. Smith, Clarke, Bradshaw, M.Smith, Seals, Knox, Gordon, Tyers, Lightfoot.

Subs: Ardin, Hodson, Hardman, Shone, Rigby.

Morecambe: Lightfoot (GK), Dingle, Carswell, Danson, Cambray, Gray, Hodkin, Howarth, Lawrence, Lucas, Hindle

Subs: Cavan, Gaskill

Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.

Read Time: 5 mins