Team: Hannah Lyon (gk), Rebecca Walkden, Louise Johnson (capt), Chloe Hayes, Sarah Webster, Louise Ainscow, Shannon Green, Alice Lane,

Ella Schickhoff. Sub: Beth Evans

 1st Half

Wigan started very well and had Preston on the racks from the first minute. The home team played some flowing football and created many scoring opportunities. The Preston keeper was forced to make saves from forwards Lane and Schickhoff, as well as from Wigan’s midfielders. There were superb crosses being put in from the wide positions from Webster, Hayes and Green, but the Preston keeper was on top form.

It seemed like the goal was going to come when Green twice had one-on-ones with the keeper, only to shoot high and then wide. The deadlock was finally broken with an excellent move, which saw Lane pick up a loose ball and play a one-two with Ainscow, who put a pass down the left side of the penalty box, Lane then put a low cross across the six yard box and Ella Schickhoff hammered the ball in off the crossbar.

Wigan continued to dominate and create more chances, restricting PNE to the occasional attack, which the defenders coped with comfortably. Wigan keeper Lyon didn’t have a save of any note to make in the first half. Half-time 1-0 

2nd Half

The expected early second half reply from Preston didn’t really happen, as Wigan continued to pile on the pressure and defend admirably. PNE’s main attacking force was “snuffed out” by excellent tackling and pressuring, however Lyon was forced to make a brave save at the feet of their main play maker to keep the score 1-0.

The second half was pretty much a repeat of the first, with Wigan having lots of possession, putting in some great crosses and creating chances. At 1-0 there was always the risk of the away team sneaking a goal on the break, which they did with great effect in the corresponding fixture last season, which ended 6-6 after Wigan lead by three goals with 5 minutes to go!

It was Louise Ainscow who settled the home team nerves when she broke play up in midfield, ran and shot right-footed from just outside the box and her shot flew low into the bottom right corner. Preston scored a consolation goal in the last minute, but the result was never in doubt. Final score 2-1.

MOM – Louise Ainscow

Wigan completed their first ever league victory over PNE and showed they have the credentials to challenge for the title this season. Consistency and the right attitude are the essential ingredients for the rest of the season, as ability is definitely there.

Team: Hannah Lyon (GK), Becky Walkden, Louise Johnson (Capt), Chloe Halyes, Sarah Webster, Louise Ainscow, Shannon Green, Ella Schickhoff, Alice Lane, Sub: Beth Evans.

Scorers: Louise Ainscow (5), Chloe Hayes (2), Ella Schickhoff (2), Alice Lane 

Wigan started first out the blocks and never took their foot off the pedal for the whole match. In what was a one sided game the girls played some absolutely superb football, creating numerous goal scoring opportunities and having 80 to 90 percent of the ball possession.

Some of the girls passing and movement was excellent and a joy to watch. Other than a great performance from Golborne’s keeper, the score would have easily been doubled.  

All Wigan’s players were outstanding on the day, with everyone contributing towards the win, from Hannah Lyon in goal, through to the forwards.  

Half time saw Wigan 3 – 0 in front with two goals from Louise Ainscow and one from Alice Lane. After the break Wigan converted more of their chances, with further goals from Ella Schickhoff (2), Louise Ainscow (3) and Chloe Hayes (2). One of Hayes goals was a left footed corner that went straight in at the near post, and the second a left foot thunderbolt into the top corner. 

Although the girls will face tougher opposition in the competition, this was a confidence building and fantastic performance.

Team: Hannah Kirkland (GK), Sarah Webster, Shannon Green, Beth Keen, Louise Johnson (captain), Louise Ainscow, Rebecca Walkden, Ella Schickhoff, Alice Lane. Subs: Beth Evans, Chloe Hayes.

 1st Half

ManCity started the game in top gear with some good passing moves and support play, quite the opposite to Wigan’s sluggish start. Louise Johnson, Shannon Green and Becky Walden worked hard to defend and try and keep City out, but some poor marking and tracking back saw the home side create some good scoring opportunities.

This pressure resulted in Wigan conceding a corner, from which City scored a rare headed goal in girls football. Green made a last ditch recovering tackle to stop a certain goal and stand in keeper Hannah Kirkland made some good saves.

Chloe Hayes came on to shore up the defence and made an immediate impact, with some great passes and clearances. From an attacking point of view Wigan created very little, Ella Schickhoff ran the front line and held the ball up on occasions, but Wigan were restricted to long range efforts from Schickhoff and Louise Ainscow, which didn’t trouble the City keeper. City ended the first 30 minutes on top and went in 1-0 up at half time. 

2nd Half

Wigan front pairing of Schickhoff and Alice Lane struggled to put any moves together at all in the first half, but finally did manage some inter-passing at the start of the second half. Schickhoff threaded a ball down the right side of the penalty box which seemed a little too strong, however Lane reached the ball before it went out for a goal kick and saw her low right footed shot go in at the far post from a very acute angle.

This was just the start to the second half Wigan needed to lift them into action. ManCity however had other ideas, and were soon back in control, winning nearly every tackle and loose ball.

A strong run and shot into the roof of the net saw Kirkland beaten, when a Wigan player should have at least got tackle on the City player to make it difficult. City then went 3-1 up from a long range free-kick which looped over all the players in the box and went in just under the crossbar.  

Wigan were beaten by the best team on the day and hopefully some lessons of teamwork, combined effort and working for each other, will have been learned from this performance.

Becky Walkden, Louise Johnson, Louise Ainscow  and Chloe Hayes worked tirelessly throughout the game, but not enough Wigan players had the same attitude. 

MOM – Louise Ainscow

Team: Hannah Lyon (GK), Sarah Webster, Shannon Green, Beth Keen, Louise Johnson (captain), Louise Ainscow, Rebecca Walkden,

Ella Schickhoff, Alice Lane.

Subs: Beth Evans, Chloe Hayes.

 1st Half – Wigan were looking for their first ever league victory over last years title winners, and needed to start well. Taking into account the wet and blustery conditions Wigan settled first.

Louise Ainscow and Sarah Webster dominated the midfield battle early on and some well timed passes and tackles gave the home team the upper hand. Defensively Becky Walkden, Beth Keen and Louise Johnson won everything, with Ella Schickhoff and Alice Lance working hard up front.

Long range shots from Walkden and Schickhoff saw the Blackpool keeper make some excellent saves, however she could do nothing when a slick passing move saw the ball fall at the feet of Shannon Green who coolly slotted a low left footed shot past the keeper’s left hand.

Whilst Blackpool were always a threat, Wigan’s keeper Lyon had very little to do. First half  ended with Wigan in the driving seat. 

Half-time – 1-0 (Wigan) 

2nd Half – Blackpool came out with extra vigour and determination in an attempt to “muscle” themselves back into the game.

Wigan matched their efforts and both teams tackling was strong and mainly fair! Blackpool’s impressive midfielder gradually came more into the game as an attacking force and midway through the 2nd half a good run and shot saw Lyon beaten.

After their goal Blackpool continued to press players forward, so more dogged defending from Keen, Johnson and Walkden, with some brave keeping form Lyon, was required. Wigan came close on two occasions to grabbing the winner on the counter-attack, with efforts from Schickhoff and Lane, but only to see their shots go just over and wide.

Chloe Hayes and Beth Evans came on and impressed playing in different positions, to help Wigan gain a much deserved point. 

Final score –  1 - 1 

Whilst Wigan still await their first victory over Blackpool, the team showed they have enough qualities to contend for the title this season. Consistency will be the key for any success this season and next week sees another tough and physical game away at ManCity girls, where another good performance is required in order to get the three points needed. 

MOM – Becky Walkden

Team: Hannah Lyon (GK), Sarah Webster, Shannon Green, Beth Keen, Louise Johnson (captain), Louise Ainscow, Rebecca Walkden, Ella Schickhoff, Alice Lane. Subs: Beth Evans, Chloe Hayes.

1st Half

The game started evenly with both teams working hard closing down space and few chances were created in the opening 10-15 minutes.

Whilst Wigan had the majority of possession they found it difficult to put some meaning passing moves together.

This wasn’t helped playing against quite a string wind. As this was the first game of the 2010/11 season, the girls seemed a little rusty, but goalkeeper Lyon and captain Johnson were solid in defence, which steadied the team.

Webster nearly got through Mill Hill with a “mazy” midfield run, but she couldn’t get a shot away. It was a pass from Webster to Schickhoff that gave the Wigan striker her first clear chance on goal, she took it well and a low shot into the bottom left corner to see Wigan go one up.

Evans and Hayes came on as substitutes for the last 10 minutes of the first half to try and inject some spark, and it was Evans who nearly put Wigan two up after she got free from the last defender, only to see her shot go just past the post.

Half-time – 1-0 (Wigan)

2nd Half

After a pretty average first half Wigan came out and played with the wind behind then. Green and Ainscow found more space in Wigan’s midfield and began to create more attacking moves.

Goalkeeper Lyon was using the wind to her advantage with her long kicks, and this forced a corner as Mill Hill’s defender couldn’t clear the long ball.

Webster took a superb corner right footed, and saw the ball fly straight in at the far post, past the stranded Mill Hill keeper. From the kick off Wigan won the ball back in midfield and a strong run and shot from Ainscow saw Lane score her first goal of the season from a rebound off the keeper.

Keen began to make some important tackles in defence, and find players with some good long range passes. Green too was finding herself in some more advance positions supporting the forwards, and it was a run then pass from her that saw Lane put the ball away with a very similar finish to her first goal.

Mill Hill came back at the home team and put some pressure on the home defence. As Wigan gave the ball away up front, Mill Hill ceased the opportunity  and broke forward. A long range effort from outside the box saw Lyon beaten with a superb shot to make it 4-1 Wigan.

Following another attack by the away team, a long clearance from skipper Johnson landed at the feet of Schickhoff, who controlled the ball, turned well and ran at the defenders, then saw her low right footed shot nestle in the right corner.

Final score – 5-1