Stockport County Ladies 4-2 Wigan Athletic Ladies: O’Reilly double at Stockport Sports Village

Stockport County Ladies 4-2 Wigan Athletic Ladies
Mapp and Massey celebrate Stockport County Ladies' opener (James Gill)

Defender Claire O’Reilly scored twice as Stockport County Ladies beat Wigan Athletic at Stockport Sports Village.

A number of County regulars were missing, most notably Jeneyah Webb and Katie Brusell, allowing for a first team call-up for Imogen Porteous-Williams.

A few early breaks down the left from Massey didn’t go unnoticed by the Latics, who focused their defensive attention on the Development Squad call-up.

Just before the 20-minute mark, a good break from Massey through the centre allowed her to square the ball across the edge of the box to Chloe Mapp, who curled home to give County the lead.

A few minutes later, a corner by Douglas on the left found Abi Hayes and only some defensive heroics denied the defender her first County goal.

Massey continued to make a nuisance of herself, linking up well with John and O’Reilly on the left.

County finally got their second on 67 minutes through some brilliance from left-back O’Reilly, who scored from 35 yards.

The visitors pulled two goals back to level the game, but this sparked some flowing football from County.

A run from Douglas down the right led to a free-kick just outside the Wigan penalty area and the ball in from O’Reilly was met by Nicola Connor to head home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The 90-minute mark passed and with just seconds on the clock, County found themselves with free-kick 25 yards from goal that O’Reilly curled into the top corner.