Flashback: Big day for Bethel as they slay Caernarfon in the Welsh Cup (2017)

Delighted Bethel players congratulate goal scorer Sioned Phillips (furthest left). Pic: Dai Sinclair

Bethel 4 (Sioned Phillips 2, Ffion Williams 2)
Caernarfon Town 1 (Ffion Owen)
FAW Women’s Welsh Cup round one – October 8, 2017

Ask any number of the more experienced Bethel players what is their favourite-ever game and a good few will likely say the 4-1 Welsh Cup victory over neighbours Caernarfon of three years ago.

It still ranks as perhaps the finest result in the club’s history.

Bethel landed a plum home draw against the Cofis, who were North Wales League champions the season before and now in the Welsh Premier.

The Canaries started as favourites, but it was the North Wales League hosts who delivered the goods on the day.

Unbeaten Bethel started brightest by putting pressure on their Welsh Premier opponents, and it paid off after five minutes when Sioned Phillips took control of the ball and struck a left-footed volley that bounced and evaded Caernarfon’s keeper, hitting the net to give the home side a dream start.

The goal gave Bethel confidence and they really got on the front foot, winning every challenge in defence and dominating the midfield.

Mari Gibbard (maroon) set up goal number three. Picture: Dai Sinclair

On 25 minutes the home team extended their lead. Mari Gibbard picked up the ball on halfway, beat her marker and played an inch perfect through ball that left three Caernarfon defenders stranded and found Ffion Williams, who chipped the on-rushing keeper with a delicious first time finish.

Caernarfon pressed to try and get back into the tie, creating a couple of half chances but Bethel’s excellent defending meant they went into the break 2-0 up.

The second half was a little more even, Caernarfon changed their shape in order to get back in the game, but Sioned Hughes-Williams in the Bethel goal made a couple of good saves.

Caernarfon’s pressure counted for nothing though, as a defensive mix up led to Phillips finding herself one on one and she managed to stay calm to slot the ball under the keeper for 3-0.

The Cofis managed to pull a goal back as Bethel lost concentration, Ffion Owen tapping home from close range, but it proved to be merely a consolation goal as Bethel thumped in a fourth.

In-form striker Ffion Williams isolated the defender, left her stranded as she evaded the challenge and found the roof of the net to seal the 4-1 win and send the home supporters and management into a frenzy.