Match Preview: Bootle FC Women vs Clay Brow Women
- Feb 1
- 2 min read
Photos: Kate Tencza
By Freddie Bullen
Bootle FC Women return to The Berry Street Garage Stadium this weekend as February begins with the first of four home fixtures for the Bucks. Clay Brow make the short return to Vesty Road just three weeks after their last visit, with Bootle hoping to replicate – or better – their previous success in what promises to be an important league clash.
The Bucks come into the game looking to bounce back from last Sunday’s 3–0 defeat away to West Kirby United. It was a quiet afternoon in front of goal for Bootle at Anglesey Road, as goals from Charlotte Wright, Anna Burgess and Issey Dudley secured the points for the Wirral side. Despite the scoreline, emergency goalkeeper Cody Naylor produced a string of excellent saves to keep the margin respectable.
Clay Brow have endured a difficult start to 2026, which included a 4–1 defeat to Bootle in January. A home walkover at Vulcan followed, before last weekend’s 6–2 loss away at St Helens Rovers in an open, end-to-end encounter. A clinical first half from the hosts saw St Helens lead 5–2 at the break, adding one more after the interval to compound a disappointing afternoon for Clay Brow.
The two sides last met at The Berry Street Garage Stadium in the LWYC Open Age Cup, where Bootle ran out 4–1 winners. After falling behind early, goals from Abbi Fowler and a first-half strike from Poppie O’Neil turned the game around. O’Neil added her second after the break, while Millie Davies capped the performance with a stunning long-range effort. Goalkeeper Izzy Cartwright also played a key role, producing a heroic second-half display that included a crucial penalty save.
Bootle currently sit sixth in the table, six points behind today’s visitors, with Clay Brow dropping to third following their recent run of results. With the mid-table tightly packed, the Bucks will be eager to claim all three points and reignite their push towards the promotion places. Clay Brow, meanwhile, arrive in L30 determined to avenge their recent defeat at Vesty Road back in early January and secure their first league win since early November.