Women’s football cup classic – Kinmel Bay v Bethel (2017)

Kinmel Bay 3 (Taylor 12 & 20; Sheridan 45)
Bethel 3 (Prytherch 36, Phillips 77, Gibbard 81)
(after extra time – replay needed)
Betty Pickering Cup quarter-final – April 20, 2017

A cracking cup tie which featured six goals needed to be replayed as the light was considered too poor for a penalty shoot-out.

Kinmel Bay led 3-1 at the interval and looked to be heading into the semi-finals before a late fightback from Bethel forced extra time.

The usual half-hour was cut to 10 minutes per period in fading light, but with there being no more goals and penalties needed, it was decided a replay was necessary.

Highlights of the game

12 min – GOAL: Skipper Charlotte Miliziano wins the ball in midfield and her pace releases NIOMI TAYLOR, who finishes calmly past keeper Sioned Hughes. KINMEL BAY 1 BETHEL 0.

13 min: Katie Midwinter swings over a perfect corner for Bethel, but Alaw Huws cannot get enough power into her free header and Becky Bott saves comfortably.

19 min: Ffion Bee shot is cleared off the line by Bay’s Talia Jones.

20 min – GOAL: Poor defending by Bethel allows NIOMI TAYLOR to latch onto the ball and lash into the top corner. KINMEL BAY 2 BETHEL 0.

28 min: Huws fails to make a firm connection with a Midwinter cross. Bethel making most of the chances but their finishing is below par, whereas Kinmel have been more clinical.

36 min – GOAL: A bad mix-up at the back allows LEONIE PRYTHERCH to find an empty net. KINMEL BAY 2 BETHEL 1.

45 min – GOAL: A great corner from Miliziano is met by a deft header by CONNIE SHERIDAN. KINMEL BAY 3 BETHEL 1.

Half-time: Kinmel Bay 3 Bethel 1.

57 min: Alaw Jones replaces Midwinter and the substitute has a big impact in attack.

58 min: Sioned Phillips slices off target from a great position for the visitors, who continue to lack bite up front.

64 min: Bott clings on smartly to an Alaw Jones shot.

67 min: Bethel captain Gwenno Gibbard sees her strike deflected wide.

70 min: Jasmine Kepil nearly makes it 4-1, but her lob over the keeper misses narrowly.

77 min – GOAL: The move of the match produces a Bethel reply. Good passing down the right leads to Huws feeding the ball inside to SIONED PHILLIPS, whose curling effort is a goal from the moment it leaves her boot from 20 yards out. KINMEL BAY 3 BETHEL 2.

80 min: Bott tips over a superb Alaw Jones free kick.

81 min – GOAL: Corner from the left and GWENNO GIBBARD forces the ball home. KINMEL BAY 3 BETHEL 3.

82 min: Alaw Jones missed by inches, firing just over the bar.

83 min: Bott saves well from Alaw Jones.

90 min: Lisa Thomas shoots for goal in added time, but Bott saves again.

Full-time: Kinmel Bay 3 Bethel 3.

Extra time

98 min: So close! Kinmel substitute Kelly Prior connects with the ball at the far post, hits the upright and the ball rolls across the line but does not cross it.

100 min: Llinos Jones’ volley forces a magnificent one-handed save from Bott.

108 min: Great chance for Bay to win it, but substitute Amy Woodbridge’s shot is brilliantly kept out by Hughes.

Final score: Kinmel Bay 3 Bethel 3

Penalties cannot be taken due to bad light – replay is needed.

TEAMS

Kinmel Bay: Becky Bott, Caitlin Latham, Talia Jones, Sarah Lloyd, Charlotte Miliziano (c), Connie Sheridan, Lucy Perry, Georgia Williams, Jess Jones, Jasmine Kepil, Niomi Taylor. Subs: Deanah Tostevin, Rhiannon Lloyd, Hannah Parry, Amy Woodbridge, Kelly Prior.

Bethel: Sioned Hughes, Lisa Thomas, Llinos Jones, Catrin Hughes, Gwenno Gibbard (c), Leonie Prytherch, Llio Emyr, Ffion Bee, Alaw Huws, Sioned Phillips, Katie Midwinter. Subs: Cara Aston, Cara Evans, Alaw Jones.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH:
Kinmel Bay: Charlotte Miliziano
Bethel: Alaw Jones

The replay was held a week later at Y Morfa Leisure Centre ground, Kinmel Bay, and Bethel won 4-2 on penalties.