North Wales girls land dream tie in Women’s FA Cup

Two North Wales footballers have a dream tie in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup to look forward to in the new year.

Laura Pennington and Kelsey Davies, who play for Wem Town of the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, travel to mighty Stoke City for a second round proper clash on January 3.

Stoke play in the third-tier FA WPL Premier Division North, which lies only below the FA Women’s Super League and Championship.

It will be a massive test for Wem, who were formerly known as TNS Ladies FC before changing their name this season.

Wem have progressed through three FA Cup stages so far, getting past Northwich Vixens (2-1), Coventry Sphinx (4-3) and, in the first round proper, they overcame Boldmere St Michael’s 4-3 on Sunday.

Captain Kim Bebbington put Wem one-up, but by the break they trailed 2-1.

Katie Doster levelled early in the second half, then Pennington made it 3-2 on the hour.

Boldmere restored parity with a penalty, but Doster plundered the winner from a corner.

Laura, from Holywell, previously played for Northop Hall, featuring in their North Wales League title-winning sides of 2015-16 and 2017-18. In the latter season, she knocked in 48 goals.

She also represented the Hall in the Welsh Premier Women’s League, scoring a hat-trick in her first season.

Davies, a former Wales international, started off as a star player at Kinmel Bay, but spent most of her senior years at Llandudno, where she was in the team which played in the 2015-16 Welsh Cup final.

Laura was part of the TNS set-up last season, whereas Kelsey joined Wem this term.