BOLTON Ladies produced a great performance to come out on top against Oldham in a match packed full of goals and incident.

Despite atrocious conditions, both teams played attractive passing hockey, with Oldham showing good approach play, which produced the opening goal for them.

However the Ladies hit back from a corner through Julie Bluer to level the score. Shortly after Oldham scored again, to leave the match evenly poised at 2-1 at half time.

In the second half, play continued in much the same way, with good approach play from Oldham, but with Bolton having the bulk of the goalscoring chances. Eventually one of the chances was converted by Louise Heaney with one of her trademark poacher's goals immediately in front of the keeper. This equaliser appeared to sting the opposition to redouble their efforts, and in the closing minutes the game became a little niggly with the umpires having to intervene to calm the atmosphere.

However there still remained one final twist to come in this absorbing encounter, as Bolton surged forward in search of a winning score, since in the dying minutes Sue Booth was in the right place to slot home after a rebounded shot fell nicely into her path.

Woman of the match was Claire Russell, but in truth this was a whole team performance of grit and determination.

The Ladies would like to thank Mark Wallwork, the proprietor of '531 Dental Care', Bolton, who kindly sponsored the match ball, and Adam F Greenalgh and Co Ltd for their continued support.