There’s no questioning Wirral United’s ambition. Last summer, they secured the signing of Charlotte Cloy, captain of the Poulton Vics side that had won the North West Women’s Regional League, a tier above this one, and recently they strengthened their squad by bringing in two more NWWWRL players from AFC Crewe. I saw them recently winning at Northwich Vixens: despite the absence of several key players, Wirral dominated throughout, the 4-0 victory only kept down by a combination of last-ditch defending from the home side and some uncharacteristically wayward finishing from the visitors.
Today, just three years into their existence, they had a chance to take a huge step towards the Cheshire League title. At the top of the league, it’s been neck and neck between Wirral and Stockport’s development team all season. Both remained unbeaten going into this game at Leasowe Leisure Centre.
Recently, Wirral had come close to stealing a march over their title rivals, leading 1-0 in the away fixture until the dying seconds of the game, when Stockport grabbed an equaliser and a title lifeline.
For a while today, it seems like something similar might occur. Despite Wirral’s first half dominance they only Taylor Oakley’s tenth minute goal to show for it and that’s been cancelled out by Emma Hodge’s long-range effort. When the normally prolific Rebecca Tebb’s penalty is saved by the impressive Eva Barrett in the visitors’ goal, perhaps there’s some nervousness among the two dozen or so United supporters, gathered along one side of the pitch, and a sense of déjà vu.
The home side put any such thoughts to rest in a second half which marks them out as more than equipped to deal with the promotion that looks likely to come their way at the end of the season. Two minutes after the break Jade Graham opens the floodgates, both for her and the team. She goes on to secure a second half hat-trick, Cloy adds another, Taylor Oakley grabs a second and Tebb puts that penalty miss behind her to add to the tally as Wirral go on to secure a huge 7-1 victory and take an even huger step towards the league title.
There are still two games to go in the league, part of a packed end-of-season run-in that sees Wirral pursuing both the Cheshire and Liverpool FA Challenge Cups. Although no one is celebrating just yet, the club are potentially five games away from a remarkable treble. Last year’s Cheshire League champions, Nantwich Town, went on to win the NWWWRL South Division this season. On this evidence, Wirral United have what it takes to repeat that achievement.
