Flashback: Three years ago today Mari Gibbard did something very special

Llandudno 13 (Mari Gibbard 6, Sofie Owen 2, Jordanne Greenough 2, Anna Jones 2, Stacey Tradewell)
Corwen 0
FAW Women’s Cup first round – October 14, 2018

Mari Gibbard will never forget today’s date three years ago.

It was the day she scored six goals in a Welsh Cup tie for Llandudno against Corwen.

Before we go any further, it must be stressed Tudno were in the Welsh Premier at the time and Corwen were a very young, brand new team in North Wales League Division Two.

The visitors put in a great effort, especially keeper Elliw Ford, who kept the score down with some brilliant saves.

Ford’s heroics ensured the deadlock was not broken until the 18th minute, when Mari Gibbard finished well from the edge of the area.

Three minutes later Mari added a second with a well-struck low effort.

Louisha Doran, Stacey Tradewell and Kelsey Davies combined to set up Sofie Owen for number three, then Gibbard released Jordanne Greenough, who applied a fine finish.

The outstanding Anna Jones got in on the act with a truly stunning strike from 25 yards to make it 5-0.

Then in the 34th minute Gibbard completed a hat-trick from a corner.

Owen notched her second just before the break after fine play from Greenough, making it 7-0 at half time.

Greenough and Tradewell added further goals before impressive debutant Jasmin Dutton, a full Wales international, almost marked her first game for the club with a goal when she rattled the post.

Double figures were reached when Davies put it on a plate for Mari G to chalk up her fourth.

Anna Jones then made it a personal pair for 11-0.

Magic Mari completed the rout with two more, a 25-yard cracker and neat finish making it six goals for the player and 13 for the team.

RECORD FOR THE TIME?

Six goals in a single game for a Llandudno player may have been a club record at the time.

Back in December 2012, Llandudno thrashed Caerphilly Castle 26-0 – then a highest-ever Welsh Premier Women’s League victory.

Sarah Lawson scored seven, Sofie Owen six, Simone Drummond four, Gail Naylor and Stacey Tradewell two each and the rest came in singles.

Unfortunately, Caerphilly Castle withdrew from the league, all their results were expunged, and the 26-0 became void.

This season, however, Mari’s six-goal achievement was bettered by 17-year-old Ella Jones, who netted seven against Denbigh in the Genero Adran Trophy.

In the meantime, Happy Six-Goal Birthday to Mari, who now plays for Bethel.

One of the finest strikers to represent Llandudno, Mari scored 16 goals in all competitions for the club in 2018-19.

She has also had a spell playing and coaching in America.