Bootle Women cruise to 2-0 win in the cup!

By Dylan Jones

Photos: Kate Tencza

Bootle FC Women performed brilliantly to earn a 2-0 win over St Helens Rovers in the LWYL Open Age Cup.

A second half goal and assist from Poppie O’Neill aided the girls to the win after a frustrating spell of postponements over the last few weeks.

After a nervy first ten minutes for both teams, The Bucks began to grow into the game.

Caitlyn Rogers found herself through one on one after dispossessing the St Helens defence. Her first shot was well saved but the second just creeped over the bar.

Just a few minutes later Rodgers sent Alice Gannon through down the right-hand side, who aimed towards the near post but was denied by the goalkeeper.

20 minutes in and it’s Rogers again, this time sending Poppie O’Neill away on the left. Her shot on goal was thwarted by the outcoming goalkeeper who at this point was keeping St Helens in the match.

Two minutes after, Ev Isuala gets on the ball in the middle of the park. She effortlessly turned away from a midfielder before finding Rogers over the top, but the resulting shot sailed wide.

Not long later O’Neill created space down the left-hand side to deliver a cross which fell to Rodgers once again, but her shot was denied by the outstretched goalkeeper.

After surviving long stretches of pressure in the first thirty minutes, St Helens began to assert themselves in the game. Smart defending from Millie Davis and Charlie Singh however ensure the girls enter half time still at 0-0.

The Bucks came out for the second half the much better side and were rewarded with an early goal.

After a cross from the right perfectly found O’Neill in plenty of space, the left winger calmly headed the ball back across the keeper and into the opposite corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

10 minutes after the goal, Rogers played the ball inside from the left to O’Neill 12 yards out, who played another ball across the box to Gannon, but her shot ended up narrowly wide of the post.

Around 65 minutes in, O’Neill created space on the left wing. She floated a dangerous cross into the box, which was met by a St Helens head but directed into her own goal for 2-0 and a bit of comfort.

Five minutes later Rogers again found herself with plenty of space around the edge of the box. Her strike was well hit towards the bottom right-hand corner but was tipped onto the post.

Over the last 20 minutes the girls defended well and limited opportunities for St Helens, allowing them to earn a dominant 2-0 win.