WANDERERS Ladies have one hand on the title after Mitch Kirkman-Ryan broke through the 30-goal barrier in a victory over Birkenhead.

 

John Oliver’s side need just one point from their remaining two games to mathematically seal their first-ever promotion from the North West Regional League into to the Super League.

 

Kirkman-Ryan grabbed the headlines with two goals, taking her season’s tally to 31, but Shell Saunders and Nic Hamilton were picked out by the coaching staff as stars of the show.

 

Wanderers had beaten Birkenhead 7-0 at Lostock a week earlier and took a three-goal lead into half-time.

 

Cameron Troiano hit the bar once but got the goal she deserved after Kirkman-Ryan’s brace.

 

The second half proved more of a struggle and the home side got themselves a late consolation but the result sets things up nicely for this Sunday’s trip to Blackpool.

 

The reserve team fought out a 1-1 draw at Morecambe, Billie Boardman scoring the Bolton goal with a trademark long-distance strike. The team now needs nine points from their final four games to guarantee second spot in the league.

 

The development team beat local rivals Bury 4-3 at Little Lever to book their place in the League Cup semi-finals.

 

The scoring swung to-and-fro, Stacey Saunders and Poppy Haslam netting for the Whites as the teams went in all square at 2-2.

 

Bury took the lead soon after the restart but when Keri O’Loughlin created an equaliser for Saunders, Bolton pushed hard for the winner – supplied with just a few minutes to go by Megan Dunford.

 

Elsewhere, CMB remedied their scoring woes but found their normally-reliable defence out of sorts in a 6-3 defeat to Burnley.

 

Sophie Williams hit the bar twice but goals came from Becky Lea, Katie Donohue and debutant Laura Tobin.

 

The ladies remain at the foot of the table but have enough points to play for to get out of trouble.