THE GIRLS MAKE A DREAM START TO THEIR CUP CAMPAIGN

Bootle FC Women defeated a strong Clay Brow in style with a crushing 4-1 victory at The Berry Street Garage Stadium on sunday afternoon. With the help of a brace from star girl Poppie O’Neil, who grabbed her self a brace and the herorics between the sticks by Izzy Cartwright, the girls started 2026 in the best way possible.

It was a dominant first 10 minutes from the vistors as they pressed the Bootle defence but the break through came in the 10th minute after miscommunication between bootle goalkeeper Izzy Cartwright and her defender gifted Clay Brow’s Anastasia Power an open net which she tapped in comfortably to put the visitors ahead. A disaster start for the bucks who were quickly eager to fight back for an equaliser. Bootle began to get in to the game following the goal with a few chances with Poppie O’Neil being caught just offside in the 18th minute. But despite dominance from the bucks nothing really tested the Clay brow goalkeeper. Just 10 minutes later, a weak back pass from the Clay brow defender gave the ball straight to Abbi Fowler, who dribbled past 2 Clay Brow defenders before taking it round the keeper to level the scores at one a piece. Bootle continued their dominance following their equaliser establishing control of the game and they were rewarded as in the 41st minute, as a brilliant through ball from Katie Losh put Poppie O’Neil through with plenty of space on the left hand side and cut inside and placed her shot perfectly into the bottom far right corner to put the girls in front, grabbing her first of the day. The bucks went half time with a 2-1 lead.

The visitors started off the second half strong putting a lot of pressure on the Bootle defence. Clay brow came close to scoring in the 49th minute when a ball whipped in from the left hand side of the Dodge Kop fell to the feet Clay brow who were free at the back their first shot was stopped by supper keeper Izzy Cartwright before the rebound was again blocked by Cartwright who pulled off an amazing double save to keep the bucks ahead but not long after in the 57th minute Cartwright would meet the ultimate keeper’s challenge as bootle gave away a penalty for a silly challenge in the box. But have no fear as a brave Izzy Cartwright in goal produced a worlfie save as she tipped the ball onto the bar and over putting it out for a Clay brow corner. A fantastic performance from Cartwright in the second half making up for the mistake in the first half which had put them behind. Bootle would gradually get control of the game in the second half. Poppie O’Neil would then grab her second of the day. The Clay brow defender attempted to give the ball back to her keeper but her pass was intercepted by O’Neil in the box who placed her shot easily passed the startled Clay Brow keeper to extend bootles lead to two. It was an equal game following the goal with chances for either side, but the bucks were the team to finish the game off in style as Clay brow give the ball right Millie Davies just past the half way line who hits her shot first time right to the clay brow keeper who misjudges the bounce which bounces right over her head and into the back of net. A fantastic goal from Davies to finish off what was an incredible watch not long after the final whistle blew confirming three points for the girls in their first group stage game of the LWYC Open Age Cup.