Bolton Wanderers Women kicked off the New Year 2025 with a resounding 4-1 victory over Workington Town Women, thereby extending their remarkable winning streak to twelve games. With this impressive achievement, they solidify their place at the top of the Division One North table, edging out their competitors by leaps and bounds.
The team traveled to Cumbria under less than ideal conditions, facing overnight snow and travel delays which led to a postponed kickoff. Despite these obstacles, the Wanderers took to the field wearing their vibrant purple and pink away kit at the Fibrus Community Stadium, showcasing their determination right from the get-go.
Prior to this latest match, Wanderers enjoyed a strong finish to the last year, netting victories and setting high expectations for 2025. Manager Myles Smith decided to keep the lineup unchanged from their successful game against Accrington before the holidays, indicating confidence in his team’s form. The only adjustment was the inclusion of Emme Shone on the bench, who replaced Flo Rigby.
The game's opening moments saw both teams cautiously assessing each other, with Workington attempting to impose themselves early on. The home side's early pressure was thwarted by Annabelle White, who made some key saves, allowing Bolton to shake off their nerves and find their rhythm. Notably, Madison Hardman narrowly missed scoring following a well-placed cross from Millie Smith, where her header was comfortably saved by Workington's goalkeeper, Laura Miller.
By the 11th minute, Wanderers took the lead, courtesy of Neishai Gordon. After evading defenders and capitalizing on some defensive chaos, she managed to finish beautifully, marking her as one to watch. After gaining the upper hand, Bolton sought to extend their advantage, with Faye Knox constantly creating opportunities on the left flank. Yet, they faced resilient defenses from Workington as Miller continued making impressive saves.
Despite the promising start, Bolton's momentum faltered just before half-time when Hayley Bracken equalized for Workington through a corner, sending both teams back to the locker rooms at 1-1. This moment of disappointment was met with anxious anticipation from the Wanderers, forcing them to rethink their strategy going forward and discuss their tactical approach.
Smith provided motivation during the break, emphasizing the need for unity amid the challenging conditions of the sodden pitch and cold weather. "When the fixtures got released, my assistant Carl (Halliwell) pointed at the Workington game and said: ‘That could be a real banana skin’ – and he wasn’t wrong!" Smith remarked, reflecting on the match's nature.
The second half opened with newfound intensity from Bolton. Just minutes after the restart, Maddison Hardman swung the pendulum back for Bolton with her decisive goal. Hardman found herself one-on-one with Miller and maintained her composure to slot the ball home, restoring the lead and granting the team momentum.
Wanderers continued to press, and it was only fitting when Knox found the net after exploiting some space created by Eleanor Seals’ defense-splitting pass. With composure, Knox managed to finish at the near post, showcasing her quality, which put Bolton firmly on the path to victory.
Gordon also returned to the scoresheet shortly after Knox, completing her double with another well-timed run and precise finish. Within moments, Bolton had turned the game on its head, establishing an unanswerable lead as the rain continued to pour, creating more difficulties on the pitch.
Even as changes were made with substitutions from the bench, Bolton maintained control of the match and played out the remaining minutes with tactical discipline. Manager Smith praised the players for their battling spirit, stating, "Without being too cliched, that's what did it. The players battling on won the game." His words reflected the culmination of hard work put forth by the whole team, emphasizing their ability to adapt to the circumstances.
Bolton Wanderers Women now approach the upcoming challenge against Fleetwood Town, having successfully retained their stronghold atop the league standings, leading by six points from second-placed Penrith. With 12 victories out of 12 matches, they have made their intentions for the season clear. Their resilience was on full display this week, and as the momentum builds, fans can expect even more thrilling performances from this talented side.