Bolton Wanderers Women were left frustrated at their new home, Victory Park, as they fell to a 4-2 defeat against FC United of Manchester. Despite threatening a comeback on two occasions, the late fightback was not enough as the visitors took all three points.
Wanderers made four changes from Sunday’s defeat at Darwen, with Caitlin Clarke, Eleanor Seals and Millie Smith come into the starting eleven alongside Adekite Fatuga-Dada - making her Wanderers debut after signing earlier in the day. Abbie Brown was named on the bench and would go onto make her debut in the second half.
The first half Wanderers starting strong, and within the opening minutes Ocean Flanagan went through one-on-one with United’s keeper Poppy Lyons-Walker, but the keeper just beat her to the ball.
Just two minutes later Rachel Lloyd put United ahead. Despite a crowded penalty area, there was enough space and opportunity for Lloyd to find a gap and slot home to put the visitors in-front.
Despite going behind Bolton continued to press, and Evie Sadler came close to putting Wanderers back level from just outside the box but the keeper made a great save to prevent her from equalising.
Wanderers kept up the pressure and Faye Knox had a promising effort from outside the box, but her effort was comfortably gathered by the United goalkeeper.
As the Bolton press continued, Natasha Dale almost puts Wanderers back on level terms when she received a ball that was played in to her by Knox, but her effort went just wide of the goal.
Sadler again was causing United a lot of issues and came close to putting Wanderers level from just outside the box, but the keeper was quick to get across and get a hand to it.
Just after the half-hour mark, Sadler came even closer to getting Wanderers on the board when latching onto a well-placed ball from Knox but the shot whistled just over the bar, sparing the United keeper from having to make a touch.
In the following minutes, Sadler again found herself with a couple more opportunities, thanks to some well-weighted passes from Flanagan. However, each attempt was narrowly denied by either the United goalkeeper or the woodwork as the Whites looked the most likely to be the next scorers.
However, they were made to rue their missed opportunities and just five minutes before half-time, FC United doubled their lead. Hannah Williams tapped in for the visitors with Wanderers not clearing the danger.
The half time break saw Myles Smith make a couple of changes, with Zara Plano on for Dale and Brown making her Wanderers debut for Sadler.
Within the opening few minutes of the second half, Bolton came out the blocks looking to get back into the game, with Brown looking like she may have been through on goal but was denied by the offside flag before she could take her shot.
Flanagan made a typically superb driving run before playing in Knox, who took on a difficult effort from a tight angle. However, her shot towards the near post proved too narrow to trouble the keeper.
In the 58th minute, new signing Fatuga-Dada was brought down in the box, sparking appeals for a penalty. Despite the protests, the referee waved play on and Wanderers were left frustrated.
Wanderers kept up the pressure, and just after the hour mark, Zara Plano nearly pulled one back for the home side. A well-delivered free kick from Lucy Walsh, taken from the centre circle, picked out Plano in the box but her effort was too close to the goalkeeper to find the net.
The visitors were still threat at the other end of the field, and United’s Hollie O’Neil hit the crossbar, before the rebound was cleared off the line by Lucy Walsh - this just moments after White had made already made a great save on another United attempt.
Just a minute later, Wanderers threw themselves a lifeline and pulled a goal back as Knox finished in style, expertly supplied by a precise pass from Millie Smith, who found Knox perfectly positioned to fire the ball home for the Whites.
From the restart, United responded quickly as Williams secured her second goal of the night, taking advantage of a momentary lapse in Bolton’s defensive organisation.
The hosts had to respond again and did so through Brown to reignite Bolton’s hopes with her first goal for the club on debut. A well-delivered cross from Knox found Brown in the box, who controlled it confidently and finished with flair to bring Bolton back into the game.
Unfortunately, Bolton’s resurgence was short-lived. Despite a few more efforts - most notably Sanah Mehdi’s near miss, tipping a header just over the bar - United held firm and sealed the victory in the 90th minute with their fourth goal of the night, scored by Izzy Morris.
Despite dominating large spells and creating several strong chances, key moments at both ends of the field proved costly. Looking ahead, the team will aim to bounce back as they travel to West Didsbury and Chorlton this Sunday.
Wanderers: White, Walsh, Holt, Clarke, Fatuga-Dada, Seals, Smith, Knox, Flanagan, Dale, Sadler
Subs: Clark, Plano, Tyers, Mendi, Brown
FC United of Manchester: Lyons-Walker, Dill, Firth, Lester, Hamer, Tankard, Booth, Lloyd, Williams, Carlin, Turner
Subs: Morris, O’ Neil
Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.