Grassroots North Wales women’s football awards 2019-20 season
The season was cut short due to coronavirus but the 2019-20 North Wales women’s football campaign still provided many highlights.
Here’s our annual awards……
League Player of the Season
Lexi Crawley (Amlwch Town)
Second highest scorer in all competitions (20 goals) and second in the Division Two chart (16).
This all came on the back of her finishing top markswoman in the Inter-Island Games with five goals for beaten finalists Ynys Môn.
She will score at any level.
Young Player of the Season
Anest Haf Roberts (Bethel)
Magnificent season in central defence for this 17-year-old, not just keeping opposition forwards at bay, but also proving a danger from set-pieces with her free kicks and attacking the ball from corners.
Manager of the Season
Sara Hilton (Connah’s Quay Nomads)
Former Wales captain from under-15 to U-19, ex-Manchester United and Tranmere Rovers defender/midfielder. Great pedigree as a player and has carried that forward into coaching, where she is very highly qualified.
Great first season with Nomads, leading them to runners-up spot in Division Two (unbeaten) and the Welsh Cup semi-finals.
Team of the Season
Amlwch Town
Won more games and scored more goals than anyone else – deserved Division Two champions.
Strengthened considerably in the summer and benefited by winning their first league title.
Great team to watch, thrilling going forward and rock-solid at the back.
Goalkeeper of the Season
Lauren Jones (Rhyl)
Brave and a great shot-stopper. Numerous good performances for a Rhyl side which adapted really well to life in Division One.
Defender of the Season
Beca Williams (Bethel)
In her first season as a senior, Beca has hit the ground running.
Superb defensively, maturity beyond her years, and so often an asset in attack.
Midfielder of the Season
Ffion Owen (Amlwch Town)
Leading scorer in Division Two with 19 goals.
Joined Amlwch last summer and did as much as anyone to ensure they finished champions.
Forward of the Season
Candice Nellist (Connah’s Quay Nomads)
Former Tranmere Rovers and Rhyl forward had a brilliant debut season with Nomads, scoring 16 goals in all competitions.
Strong, determined front player who is still just 19 years old and surely has many great times ahead of her.
Veteran Player of the Season
Ceri Purvis (Rhyl)
Second top-scorer in Division One and had 7 goals chalked off after Bethesda resigned following an 18-1 hammering at the hands of Rhyl.
Result of the Season
Connah’s Quay Nomads 2 Port Talbot Town 1 (Welsh Cup)
An amazing win for the North Wales League Division Two side over Welsh Premier visitors. Sadly, Nomads’ semi-final v Swansea City has not been played.
Shock of the Season
Airbus 4 Bethel 0 (January 12, Betty Pickering Cup)
Not totally unexpected that Airbus won, but the 4-0 scoreline against such strong opponents was against the odds.
Most exciting newcomer
Llinos Hughes (NFA)
Composed young defender who got increasingly better as the season went on. Part of an NFA side which overcame a tough start to finish third in Division Two.
Best goal
Lexi Crawley (NFA v Amlwch Town) – 20 yard screamer in off bar
Although she scored a hat-trick in this game, Lexi missed a few good chances, but made no mistake with this absolute missile.
Best individual performance
Ffion Williams (Rhyl v Bethel, Welsh Cup. Scored hat-trick for Bethel in 4-3 win)
The lively front-runner was at her deadly best in this one, outwitting the Rhyl defence three times and applying trademark lethal finishes.
Most thrilling team to watch
Pwllheli
Some great wins and lots of goals in their matches – for and against
Game of the Season
NFA 3 Llanberis 2 (February 2)
Classic battle. NFA went 2-0 up, Llanberis fought back to 2-2, but Emily Jones notched the winner for NFA
Most improved team
Penrhyn Bay
Best referee
Gary Hayes
Golden Boot
Erin Maloney (Bethel) 21 goals
Most Goals in a Game
Katie Bowe (Mountain Rangers) 7