North Wales Women’s League – 1876 return to the summit, but Holywell put up fine show

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE – DECEMBER 5

Bangor 1876 6 (G Roberts 18, J Roberts 36 & 50, C Williams 41, Ellis 56, Barton 78)
Holywell 2 (McGilloway 7 & 48)

Despite being without three main strikers and their skipper, 1876 still managed to rack up six goals and return to the North Wales Women’s League summit.

Visitors Holywell put up a great battle though, with goalkeeper Sinead Beck outstanding.

The hosts looked to apply early pressure at Plas Ffrancon, Bethesda, and Gwen Roberts broke through to be denied by a good save at the near post from Beck, playing in goal for the first time.

Holywell managed to push forward and struck first in the seventh minute. A free kick led to a mix up in the 1876 defence and Ruby McGilloway was on alert to knock the ball home.

This seemed to wake 1876 up and they went into next gear, putting pressure on the Holywell defence and pinning them back, but Beck produced some fine saves to keep the lead.

Then in the 18th minute a ball down the left fell to Gwen Roberts, who turned and sent a fantastic shot into the bottom right from outside the box.

After 25 minutes, 1876’s Cara Aston had to come off injured and was replaced by Awel Ellis. The substitute took control of the game and brought a sense of purpose to the 1876 team.

The movement, the pressure and the link up play started to click.

This was rewarded on 36 minutes when a ball down the right was played back to Jordan Roberts, who lobbed the goalkeeper from 30 yards out.

The hosts attacked some more, but Holywell defended well and made a couple of chances themselves. If not for a fantastic save from Becca Elliott, the Flintshire girls could have equalised.

Four minutes before the break it was 3-1. A long shot from Ellis was parried by the goalkeeper but Chelsea Williams tapped home.

Half-time: Bangor 1876 3-1 Holywell

The Wellwomen were far from finished and started the second half strongly and energetically.

A ball down the right found McGilloway, who converted well to make it 3-2.

This again set the spark off in 1876, who from the kick off sent the ball down the right and some one-touch football led to a great team goal finished off by Jordan Roberts.
Ellis made it 5-2 on 56 minutes via a free kick.

Holywell didn’t give up and again created chances of their own. Their keeper Beck was having a blinder, denying Gwen Roberts with her feet for the save of the match.

1876 carried on the pressure and again got the reward when a ball into the box fell at substitute Molly Barton’s feet for a tap-in to make it 6-2.

Bangor manager Jonny Batten said: “Firstly a big thank you to Holywell on making the journey down the A55 for today’s fixture.

“This game was played by two teams giving it their all and leaving everything on the pitch. Holywell should be proud of the effort they put in today, they truly made 1876 work for the win.”

Players of the Match (as voted by Bangor 1876)

1876 – Chelsea Williams
Holywell – Sinead Beck

Bangor 1876
Becca Elliott, Ffion Bee, Catrin Hughes, Mia Roberts, Gwen Roberts, Jordan Roberts, Chelsea Williams, Jema Owen, Ceri Roberts, Cara Aston (Awel Ellis 25), Georgia Bain (Molly Barton 74)

Holywell
Sinead Beck, Angharad Warburton, Jess Collings, Sarah Massey, Caitlin Latham, Zoe Stopford, Tyler Price, Stephanie Bamford, Charlotte Durrans, Courtney Lancaster, Ruby McGilloway. Subs: Fiona Lambrecht, Leah Davies-Williams.