Proud Mary’s most magical moment

Possibly birthday girl Mary Griffiths’ finest hour as a Llanfair United player so far was winning the 2017-18 Central Wales Cup.

In the final, Llanfair defeated Aberystwyth Town, winners of the cup for the previous five years.

Here is the match report from that memorable evening at Llanidloes on April 13, 2018.

2018 Central Wales Women’s Cup Final
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 2 (Evans 8 & 84)
Llanfair United Ladies 3 (S Ellis 10, Griffiths 37 & 73 pen)

Two goals from Mary Griffiths ensured Llanfair gained revenge for two previous Central Wales Cup final losses to Aberystwyth.

Winners of the cup for the previous five seasons, Aber got off to a fantastic start by opening the scoring after just eight minutes.

An in-swinging corner from Caroline Cooper was poked in at the back post by Naomi Evans to put the Black and Greens ahead.

The lead did not last long as just two minutes later Llanfair’s Sarah Ellis flicked the ball past goalkeeper Ffion Ashman and lashed into the net.

Llanfair were on top and Sarah Ellis came close twice to notching her and her team’s second.

Eight minutes before half-time the 2017 runners up were ahead, when Griffiths’ excellent strike from inside the box went over Ashman and into the net to give Llanfair a 2-1 interval lead.

Aber started the second half strongly and very nearly got an equaliser just three minutes after the restart.

A corner taken by Cooper was headed just wide by Kelly Thomas.

With 20 minutes to go the Black and Greens came close again, Thomas’ header from another corner blocked on the line and then Naomi Evans’ effort went over the bar.

Three minutes later it was 3-1 to United when Sarah Ellis was fouled in the box and Griffiths confidently converted the resulting penalty.

Aber did get a goal back with six minutes remaining.

Evans did well to control in the box and put the ball past the keeper for her second of the game but there was to be no comeback as Llanfair held on for a deserved victory.