North Wales women’s football: Sunday, April 28 – Jess on fire, Zoe can’t be Stop-ped
REPORTS – SUNDAY, APRIL 28
Betty Pickering Cup quarter-finals
Flint Town United 6 Llanystumdwy 0
Zoe Stopford’s hat-trick put her on 26 goals for the season and helped secure Flint a semi-final trip to Pwllheli.
Stopford, who joined the Silkwomen at the start of this season, has now netted in eight consecutive matches for Elliott Hale’s side.
Flint have now won all 17 league and cup games they have played this term and are on a run of 19 straight wins going back to the end of last season.
The last team to beat them on April 30, 2023 was…..Pwllheli!
Flint have two huge games coming up against Pwll – the North Wales Women’s League East-West Play-Off Final on May 5 and the Betty Pickering semi a week later.
Today’s game versus Llanystumdwy at the Essity Stadium saw the hosts take a seventh-minute lead when Stopford benefited from a Tegan Crockett assist.
It was 2-0 on 19 minutes, Stopford on target again thanks to the help of skipper Ruby McGilloway.
Crockett made it three on the 38th minute with her 18th goal in 17 matches.
And there was still time for Stopford to complete her third hat-trick for the team just beyond the 45-minute mark, Rosie Hughes on this occasion with the assist.
Llanystumdwy battled hard as they always do in the second half and restricted the opposition to just two more goals.
Stopford turned provider on 65 minutes as Rosie Hughes knocked in her 18th goal of the season in 17 games – an identical record to team-mate Crockett.
Taylia Chaloner laid on the sixth goal on 82 minutes, captain McGilloway finding the net.
CPD Pwllheli 2 Kinmel Bay 0
Pwllheli had to work hard to overcome a strong and stubborn Kinmel Bay side who did the East division proud in this Betty Pickering Cup quarter-final.
Undefeated West Division champions with a 100% record, Pwll were unable to make the breakthrough in the first half as solid defending and midfield play from the visitors kept things tight.
The deadlock was broken seven minutes into the second half.
Bess Roberts and Jini Owen-Hughes produced good link-up play, the latter passing to the edge of the box, where Magi Hughes lashed home the opener.
Half-time substitute Katie Bowe settled it on 70 minutes.
Stacey Sansome laid the ball off and Bowe struck a tremendous lob beyond the keeper into the top-corner.
Berriew 0 Amlwch Town 0 (Amlwch won 4-3 on pens)
Amlwch won through on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate at Berriew Recreation Ground.
Hannah Richards missed a spot-kick for the hosts after 11 minutes and neither side was able to break the deadlock in the 90.
So it was down to a shoot-out and Ellie Jones, Cerys Gadd, Emma Roberts and Leah Jones netted for Amlwch, while Town keeper Ceri Pritchard saved Berriew’s first two kicks.
Llangefni Town 4 Denbigh Town 1
Jess Jones was once more the difference as her ninth hat-trick of the season guided Llangefni into the Betty Pickering semi-final.
The 18-year-old made it 46 goals in all competitions in 20 matches for the Anglesey side, who will take on fellow islanders Amlwch in the last four.
Cefni were given a good test by Denbigh, runners-up in the East division this season, the tie standing at 0-0 until the 36th minute when Jones found the net.
In the 57th minute Jones made it 2-0 and she completed another personal treble after 59.
Jones then set up Jen Cox to make it 4-0. Denbigh notched a deserved consolation through Bethany Kell in the 90th minute.
SEMI-FINALS – PROVISIONAL DATE MAY 12
Amlwch Town v Llangefni Town
CPD Pwllheli v Flint Town United
Supplementary Shield
Caernarfon Town 2 Trearddur Bay 1
A great day for Caernarfon Town as their young side reached the Shield final at The Oval.
Youngster Amber Brown put the Cofis in front after eight minutes when she fired in from the edge of the box after receiving the ball from Anest Parry.
Trearddur levelled the tie through Stacey Evans on 21, but Lisa Jones bagged the winner in the 31st minute, Jess Lane with the assist.
Welshpool Town 1 Northop Hall 2
Alex Stapleton’s double on 50 and 81 minutes secured Northop Hall a place in the Shield final and a meeting with Caernarfon Town.
Naomi Evans had earlier given Welshpool a 14th minute lead, but Hall were able to turn the tables.
FINAL – DATE TBC
Caernarfon Town v Northop Hall