The Great Wall of Johnson

The Bolton women’s first team travelled to Urmston looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The first 10 minutes opened with Bolton taking control with a spritely start! Fast passing, movement off the ball & working hard as a team opened up play and early opportunities at the Urmston goal.

Bolton’s efforts were rewarded within the first 15 minutes when Emily Wilkes opened the scoring with a lifted shot at goal from a penalty corner.

Set pieces continued to be positive for Bolton as they quickly won another penalty corner. This one was dragged in by Yasmin Aldcroft to the top of the D, Wilkes was on hand to turn provider playing a slip pass to Jess Flegg who converted past the post player to make it 2-0.

As the first half drew to a close Bolton capitalised again on their pressure with a strong team goal. Moving the ball from defence, before building nicely through the middle of the park, the balls was transferred to the left side where Laura Watson picked up the ball. Taking the ball wide and making her way into the D from the left, Watson passed the Urmston defenders before finding an acute finish from an impossible angle to place the ball into the goal.

Bolton lost composure and shape a little in the middle section of the game following an injury to defender Kirsten Price, as Urmston managed to break through Bolton’s defensive line on multiple occasions even getting off a cracking, lifted shot towards the Bolton goal which was saved by Goalkeeper Nyemh Johnson.

Bolton defended fiercely throughout the remainder of the second half with Johnson on hand to make a number of standout saves as she was called on again and again as Urmston battled and managed to get 2 goals back.

With the help of Johnson between the sticks putting in a Player of the Match performance, Bolton managed to hold Urmston off to finish the game with a 3-2 win and maintain their unbeaten start to the season!