Seven North Wales girls in Welsh Under-17 side beaten in Euro opener by Italy

Seven North Wales girls featured for the Welsh side which lost 2-0 to Italy in the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship in Sweden yesterday.

The Hisingen Arena, Gothenburg, was the venue for the League A Group 3 clash in which the Italians needed a second goal deep into added time to finally see off a determined Wales challenge.

Swansea City’s Emily Roberts made some fine saves between the posts for the Welsh, while Bristol City’s Tianna Teisar hit the woodwork in the second half.

Italy took the lead through Giulia Dragoni in the 37th minute before Ginevra Moretti made it 2-0 after 93.

Llandudno girls Bethan Thomas (Liverpool) and Madison Williams (Llandudno FC) both played the full 90 minutes in defence.

Midfielder Claudia Jones from Hawarden, another Liverpool prospect, completed the entire game in midfield.

Late squad addition Amy Richardson, also of Llandudno, came on as a 74th minute substitute for fellow North Walian Evie Williams.

Amy is a wing back who scored the equalising goal against England in the Wales August camp at St George’s Park. She plays in the Wales North Regional Squad and trains with Manchester United.

Sophie Rawling, representing the FAW Trust Academy North and hat-trick star for Penrhyn Bay in the 2021 FAW Under-16 Girls Cup final, took the field on 84 minutes.

Faye Hillier-Knox, of Rhyl, now a Liverpool player, featured for 66 minutes before being replaced.

Wales Under-17’s next face France on Monday and finally hosts Sweden on Thursday 28 October.

Wales line-up v Italy: Emily Roberts, Elin Jones, Bethan Thomas, Madison Williams, Evie Hughes (Sophie Rawling 84), Claudia Jones, Evie Williams (Amy Richardson 74), Manon Pearce, Faye Hillier-Knox (Lily Billingham 66), Tianna Teisar (Niamh Duggan 84), Olivia Francis (Jessica Collyer 66).