Bolton Wanderers Women recorded their first win of the 2025/26 season in an action-packed encounter on Sunday afternoon, producing a positive display to claim a 5-3 victory away at West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Abbie Brown, Ocean Flanagan (2), Zara Plano and an own goal ensured Myles Smith's side earned three points on a sun-soaked afternoon at the Step Places Stadium.
Wanderers made four changes to the starting side from Wednesday’s defeat to FC United, with Heidi Clark, Zara Plano, Charlotte Tyers and Brown all named, with Madi Hardman and Hannah Baldwin returning to the matchday squad on the bench.
Right from the first whistle Wanderers showed their intent, pushing forward with pace and purpose. Faye Knox tested the goalkeeper early on with two efforts, before Zara Plano twice went close – with her free-kick from 30 yards cleared off the line before another powerful strike whistled narrowly wide from distance.
The breakthrough that the Whites had threatened came on 25 minutes following a well-worked move. Lucy Walsh picked out Faye Knox with a precise diagonal pass, and Knox's immaculate first touch released Brown expertly with a perfectly placed pass, and she calmly slotted home to make it 1-0.
Wanderers were inches away from doubling their lead just minutes later. Brown, full of confidence, latched onto a clipped ball over the top from Ocean Flanagan but couldn’t quite find the target.
Flanagan then had a chance of her own following some more neat build-up play but was denied by the keeper.
The pressure continued to build and Wanderers' second arrived on 37 minutes. This time, Brown turned provider when slipping a perfectly weighted pass through to Flanagan, who rounded the keeper and finished with confidence.
Moments later, Plano made it three with an outstanding goal. Winning the ball back high up the pitch after receiving a pass from Knox, she spun away from her marker with an exquisite Cruyff turn before firing low into the bottom corner to cap an impressive first-half performance.
After the break, Wanderers maintained their attacking momentum. Just seven minutes into the second half, Knox whipped in a dangerous cross from the left, which forced a West Didsbury defender into an own goal under pressure, extending the lead to four.
Myles Smith made several changes during the second period, and one of them paid immediate dividends. Substitute Madi Hardman broke into space down the right and delivered a precise ball across goal for Flanagan to fire home her second and Wanderers’ fifth.
West Didsbury responded quickly, pulling one back with a tidy finish into the far corner. Naomi Lawrence became increasingly influential for Didsbury as the half wore on, forcing Annabelle White into two excellent saves.
The first came on 75 minutes, getting down sharply to deny Lawrence her second of the afternoon and again just minutes later, producing another superb stop to keep out Louise Ainscow’s powerful effort. White's reflexes ensured Wanderers kept a firm grip on the game during a critical spell.
Despite Wanderers creating further chances through Sanah Mehdi and Plano, who both tested the keeper late on, the hosts continued to battle. They were rewarded with two goals in quick succession during the closing minutes - both converted by Lawrence - reacting sharply to loose balls inside the area to complete her hat-trick.
Although the home side’s late rally briefly threatened a comeback, Wanderers’ early dominance proved decisive as they saw out the game to secure all three points.
The result marks a positive start of a busy week for Smith’s side, starting with a trip to Curzon Ashton on Wednesday night.
Wanderers: White, Clark, Smith, Holt, Tyers, Brown, Walsh, Plano, Fatuga-Dada, Flanagan, Knox
Subs: Baldwin, Seals, Hardman, Dale, Mehdi
West Didsbury and Chorlton: Dickin, Ritchie, Sones Devally, Mason, Wright, Bergin, Simons, Bracegirdle, Gunn, Bushell
Subs: Myin, Lawrence, Wilson, Ainscow, Olthof
Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.