WANDERERS Ladies concluded their fairytale season with more silverware and a nail-biting victory over MSB Woolton in the Argyle Trophy final.

Already league champions, the Whites were held to a goalless draw through 90 minutes and extra time by their plucky opponents, despite them having a player sent off for a professional foul.

They even lived on their nerves in the penalty shoot-out as Hayley Langford’s opening spot-kick bounced off the post before keeper Brit Jackson made a superb save from the very next kick to restore parity.

Gabby Yates, Charlotte Walsh and Michelle Kirkman-Ryan all scored from the spot before the final Woolton penalty was put over the bar.

“It has been unprecedented success,” club secretary Darren Butler told The Bolton News, looking towards life in the Women’s Super League next season.

“We had been working towards it, hoping more than expecting we’d ever get there. The fact we did get there has been down to hard work from the players and the staff.

“It has gone beyond what we thought would be possible, though, and it has been an incredible season for all our teams.”

Super League football will mean Wanderers come up against semi-professional sides next season but Butler is optimistic the progression shown by the club – which hopes to carry four senior teams – will continue.

“We need to build now because the challenges ahead are massive,” he said.

“The levels of interest in the club have definitely increased and I hope that means we can build from here and get stronger.

“It is a giant leap up for us next season but we’ll be giving our best shot.”

A game against local rivals Wigan Athletic has been arranged on May 24, kick-off 6.45pm, which will give some fans their first glimpse of women’s football at Wanderers.

Butler hopes it will also encourage more of the local footballers a chance to get involved.

“The match is about showcasing what the girls can do, and hopefully a few people can come down, like what they see, and get in touch with us,” he said.

“We get on well with Wigan, who have also had a successful season, and it’s a local derby so it should be a good game.”

Success has not been limited to the first team this season and Wanderers’ development team also lifted a trophy on Sunday with a thrilling penalty shoot-out win against Heyside in the Division Two Cup final.

Julie Musesoglu created the opening goal for Stacey Saunders and though Heyside did draw level, Evie Sheppard’s corner gave Musesoglu a chance to send the Whites in 2-1 up.

Again Wanderers were pegged back after a slow start to the second half but when Musesoglu made it 3-2 late on, it seemed victory was there for the taking.

But the see-saw tipped the other way once again for a third equaliser, forcing the game into a shoot-out.

Wanderers kept their nerve to convert their first four penalties but Ellie Dewhurst’s save from the first Heyside spot-kick looked to have sealed the win until Saunders struck the post.

Thankfully, Dewhurst was in sparkling form once again in sudden death, making another vital save to secure the silverware.

Wanderers still have one more chance to secure a trophy as the under-17s take on Altrincham in the League Cup final on May 21.

The club will continue to train through the summer with sessions on Tuesday and Thursday at Little Lever. New players are welcome and anyone interested is asked to message the Bolton Wanderers Ladies and Girls Facebook page.