Wigan Athletic Women secured an emphatic 8-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers Reserves at Edge Hall Road in a derby day performance that extended their unbeaten league record.
Goals from Avilla Bergin, Jess Cooke, Faye McCoy, Amy Hughes (2), Emily Firman, Sophie Whelan, and Avagrace Hodson sealed the win. The home side raced into a 5-0 half-time lead before adding three more goals after the break.
First-Half Dominance
Bergin opened the scoring inside the first minute, capitalising on a Bolton back pass to power into the box and slot the ball into an open net. Cooke doubled the lead moments later, rising high above the defence to head in from a Hannah Forster corner.
New signing Faye McCoy made it three with a well-taken free-kick from 20 yards, curling the ball past the Bolton wall and into the near post. Hughes then grabbed two goals in quick succession, first pickpocketing the Bolton defence before twisting into space to finish, then dancing through the visitors' defence to slot home coolly past the goalkeeper.
Continued Momentum After the Break
Emily Firman added a sixth goal after coming on at half-time, positioning herself well inside the box to finish. Sophie Whelan and Avagrace Hodson rounded off the scoring in the second half.
Wigan Athletic Women have started their Tier 6 campaign unbeaten, making progress in both the North West Women's Regional League and the Women's FA Cup. This was the second meeting between the two sides this season, reversing a 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers Reserves in the 2024/25 Lancashire County League Cup Final.