Last Sunday saw our Women’s team go over to take part in the inaugural East Leigh AFC Women’s Tournament – and if it were for a couple more strokes of luck, we’d have been coming home with the trophy!

Travelling over there, we knew this was going to be a good – if not long – day as we were taking part in a minimum of 3x 30 minutes games and with the weather deciding to be really nice, the heat was definitely going to play a part somewhere. We were also going with a good mix of a squad – with some experienced heads in there joining some up and coming youngsters and some players that hadn’t seen much game-time at all. That didn’t matter – we were excited and headed along the East Lancs Road in good spirits…

Our action commenced with an opening game against Hindley Juniors Development and although the game started slowly – with decent half-chances at either end – it was County that found their feet first and some good football saw us take the lead when an excellent corner from Kelly Brady saw Brit there to force the ball home. 1-0! A great start!

Hindley did there best to get back on level-terms but in truth, our Becky had little to do. We did have chances to increase our lead before the final whistle but they came and went so as the referee decided to call an end to the match, we’d been triumphant in Game One! Superb teamwork and a goal when it mattered. Kelly Brady was awarded the Player of the Match and we moved onto our next one…

And that wasn’t going to be an easy one either. We were now taking on Sir Tom Finney Development and having faced these numerous times in the league, we knew what to expect. A strong, hard battle that would be settled by the team that could finish their chances better. And when the action started, that definitely proved to be the case. We struggled to find any real rhythm and our first real chance came when a great pass put Freya through – but she could only hit it wide of the target and the opportunity was gone…

The opponents were the ones dominating the ball but whenever they did manage to break through, they found our Becky in inspired form between the sticks and it was so obvious she wanted another clean sheet. But that dream diminished when the team from Preston took the lead with a good shot and we now had it all to do. 0-1…

The girls didn’t give up though and to their credit they kept going – fully rewarded with a deserved equaliser in the very last minute. We won the ball well and receiving it about 40 yards from goal, Kelly Rearden looked up and spotted their No.1 off her line – so she simply lobbed the ball over the back-tracking keeper and as it bounced into the net, the County players all stormed over to celebrate with her! A great finish and we’d managed to claw it back. That’s how this one finished – so we were still unbeaten and still very much in the tournament. Becky Blackburn was given the Player of the Match for this one and onto a game with our old mates from Ladybridge next…

As kick-off for this one approached, we knew a win would guarantee our place in the semi-finals – so what better incentive was there to put in a performance for this one. And when the whistle went, the girls showed how much they wanted it as they were straight on the front foot and looking for that opening goal. We were causing their defence problems all game and it was no surprise when we scored – Kelly Rearden getting her second of the tournament with another neat finish to put us 1-0 up and the way we were playing, there was only one team that were going to win this…

We were rampant – but as always, concentration is key – and against the run of play, the team in yellow managed to force the ball past our Becky and into the back of our net. 1-1 and it was game on again…

That equaliser seemed to spur us on even more and if it wasn’t for the Ladybridge No.1, we would have been well out of sight by now. But even she couldn’t do anything about our Kelly Brady’s early contender for Goal of the Season – as she met a falling ball so sweetly that her rocket of a volley was past their keeper and into the top corner before she even saw it. What a strike! 2-1 and was that the goal that put us in the last four?

There was still time to sweat though as just before the end, the Ladybridge side were given the perfect opportunity to level the game from 12 yards when they were awarded a spot-kick – but to the delight of the travelling County contingent, they failed to convert it and into the semi-final we went! 2-1 and we had done it!

Kelly Brady was rightly awarded her second POM of the day – if for that strike alone – and we went into our semi-final against North Walkden knowing what was at stake. The legs were aching a little now – not helped by the heat – but there was still work to be done…

As expected, there were nerves on both sides as the whistle went to start the semi but we started to grow into it and began knocking the ball about well. County created several half-chances but we just couldn’t conver them – through a combination of poor decision-making and tired, tired legs and bodies. We kept trying though – as did the North Walkden girls – but the best passages of play were definitely coming from the team in blue…

As the game wore on, both sides knew the importance of that first goal and with the opposition creating little, we did look the more likely. We just couldn’t get that ball over the line though and when the final whistle went, it was down to the lottery of penalties to see who would go through to the final…

And that’s where our journey ended – as North Walkden went on to win the shoot-out 4-3 and for us, the tournament was over. Jessica Ross was awarded the POM for this one having given another sterling performance at the back and reduced them to very little – and as the girls all congratulated each other, it had been a really good day…

What an event! County managed to take plenty from these games – with everybody getting minutes under their belts and the inexperienced players seeing what it’s really like out there in the heat of the battle! Well done to you all! You made our whole Club proud yet again…

Massive respect for putting the event on must go to East Leigh AFC and to the teams from John Paul Soccer and Platt Bridge that also helped make the day so good. Each and every coach and the volunteers from all of the Clubs deserve a round of applause as well – for their commitment and dedication to get things like this organised. We truly hope we’re invited back next season as we’ll definitely be there if we are…

So as we made our way home to Bolton, it had been a good day despite not coming back without the trophy. It’s not always about that though is it? Today was more of a bonding session as we move towards the start of the 2023-2024 season and if that’s the gauge, then it had been an overwhelming success! Onwards and upwards girls…

#UpTheCounty!