BOLTON Wanderers Girls Under-12s have become the first girls team to win the Wigan and District Youth Cup for their age group.

The Bolton youngsters came from 2-0 down in the final last Sunday to win 4-2 after extra time against Shevington Sky Boys.

It caps a fine season after the girls also finished runner-up in the Wigan and District Youth league Under-12s West.

And coach Carl Halliwell was delighted with his side’s efforts.

He said: “What a game, what a cup final.

“We had a mountain to climb at half time but the girls showed fight and desire, to not only get back in the game, but to go on an win it.

“These girls are a joy to coach and we’ve made history today, something we should all be very proud of.

“Massive thanks to the League organisers for a fantastic day and also to Shevington Boys for making it the cup final it was.”

The Wanderers girls went into the final in confident mood on the back of 10 consecutive victories and knocking out Highfield Grange Vipers, Aspull Juniors and Hindley Juniors Cobras on their way to the final.

As the game kicked off, both teams showed signs of nerves but Shevington seemed to settle the better and after 15 minutes they were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side just outside the box.

The resulting shot few into the roof of the Bolton net to give them the lead.

Ten minutes later, the striker for Shevington robbed a defender on the edge of the box and buried the ball in the corner to mqke it 2-0 at half time.

The second half kicked off and it was one-way traffic with the Wanderers girls piling on the pressure.

And with 10 minutes to go, Brooke Markland beat her defender and fired the ball into the roof of the net to halve the deficit.

This visibly lifted the team and the Bolton fans, and with five minutes to go they were level.

Bolton were given a free-kick on the right-hand side, 20 yards out, and Olivia Dale placed the ball before striking it left-footed into the top corner to give the keeper no chance.

The Wanderers girls pushed for the winner but Shevington held on for extra time.

Five minutes into extra time, the ball was bobbling around in midfield before it eventually dropped to Paeton Waring just inside Shevington’s half, and she hit the sweetest half-volley which flew over the Shevington keeper into the roof of the net.

It was a goal-of-the-season comtender worthy of winning any cup final.

But Bolton weren’t finished and they dominated the second half of extra time before netting a cup-clinching fourth.

The ball was played out to the left by Beth Boyd where Olivia Dale picked it up and fired into the bottom corner.

The full-time whistle went soon after and the celebrations went wild, with non-alcoholic Prosecco spraying everywhere as the Under-12s celebrated making history.