Bolton Wanderers Girls Go Goal Crazy

Bolton Wanderers Ladies’ FA Cup clash with CMB was called off due to a waterlogged pitch on Sunday, and they’ll try again this Sunday at 2pm at the Eddie Davies Academy. In other news, the club are actively looking for an additional goalkeeper, so if you fancy trying your hand in nets then get in touch with the club here.

This saw attention shift to the club’s development sides - who didn’t disappoint with 24 goals scored across five matches.

Reserves hit six on the road

The Ladies Reserves side scored three late goals to make it three wins from five games and move back into the top half of the Women’s Premier League Reserves division with a 6-3 away win over Brighouse.

A game that was tight until the latter stages was won by hat-trick hero Ruby Howard, while Shellby Wolstencroft continued her fine goalscoring form, 16-year-old Ellie Mills scored for a second week in a row and her namesake Ellie Hunt grabbed her first goal for the side since her summer switch from Fylde. The Reserves face last season’s reserves league winners Blackburn Rovers on Sunday in Little Lever.

Narrow defeat for young U21s side

The Bolton Under 21s side is effectively an Under 18s side competing against much older girls, with last year’s Under 17s side graduating to take on much more experienced sides in the North West Regional League. The side fell to a 2-0 home defeat against likely league winners Penrith on Sunday, and won plenty of plaudits from the visitors - which offers plenty of hope to the young side.

U18s in seventh heaven

The Under 18s side continued their free-scoring form with a 7-3 victory at Crosby Girls. Bolton started the game brightly, with Ronnais Lloyd seeing plenty of the ball and forcing the opener as her shot was parried into the path of Lucy Ward to convert the follow-up.

They continued to press and Ward soon doubled the tally after being played in by Antonia Kelly. Wanderers added two more quick goals from Becky Ravenscroft and Kelly, before Crosby got a goal back before half-time.

The second half continued in the same vein, with the two Emily’s Kirkby and Walton causing all sorts of problems down the left flank. The visitors soon added a fifth through Ravenscroft’s second, but Crosby rallied with two goals to close the lead to 5-3 and make for an interesting ending.

But those goals woke the girls up and Kelly added her second, then Ward completed her hat-trick to seal an impressive victory. Kelly was named player of the match for a dominant performance, with special mention to Toni Dearden at the heart of the Bolton defence.

More goals for younger sides

Bolton Under 15s had another high-scoring draw as they drew 3-3 at Urmstown Meadowside. The side have lost only one of their opening four league fixtures playing in a higher division this season.

Meanwhile, the Under 14s girls racked up an 8-0 home victory over Myerscough in yet another dominant performance. The girls now have three victories from three games, without conceding a goal, so congratulations to them!

This weekend’s fixtures

Bolton Ladies’ first team will play their rearranged FA Cup third qualifying round tie against CMB this Sunday at 2pm at the Eddie Davies Academy. That’s followed by a County Cup trip to Burnley on 15 October, a home league clash with Crewe on 17 October (7.45pm KO), then a trip to Leicester City Women in the WPL Cup on 22 October.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the Reserves face Blackburn at 2pm at Little Lever School, while the Under 21s make the short trip to face Leigh RMI at the same time at Leigh Sports Village.