NEWTOWN, WALES - 13 FEBUARY 2022: during the FAW Girls Cup semi-final between Penrhyn Bay FC U16 Girls and Treowen Stars FC U16 Girls at Latham Park, Newtown, Wales, February 13th 2022. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
North Wales heroes Penrhyn Bay Girls are through to a third successive Under-16 Welsh Cup final.
Winners in 2018-19 and beaten finalists in 2020-21 (the 2019-20 competition failed to finish due to Covid), Owen Davis’ side set up a meeting with Cardiff City in the 2021-22 showpiece after seeing off Treowen 3-0 in Sunday’s semi at Newtown.
Penrhyn took the lead on 24 minutes when the Treowen keeper failed to hold an Erin Doran corner and Phoebe Ellis forced the ball home from close range.
In the 33rd minute the North Wales side were two-up.
Polly Wild-McGregor hit the post with a cracking shot from just outside the box, but was alert enough to then rob the ball off a defender, cross low into the middle and Christiana Allen was able to finish.
With a handy lead at half time, Bay secured their place in the final with a clinching goal in the 66th minute.
From way out on the left wing, Ellis’ shot beat a keeper way out of her goal and the ball flew into the net to settle the tie.
A magnificent effort from Penrhyn Bay, who will now be determined to go one better than last season, when they lost 4-3 to Barry Town United, against the might of Cardiff City in April’s final.
“Happy to captain the team as I think we have the potential as a team to win the Welsh Cup. Myself and the rest of the team have shown in the semi final and the rest of the games this year how well we can play and how much we want to lift that cup in April.”
Millie Spencer
Azita Ahari
Catrin Vaughan
Rhian Edwards
Charlotte Perry
Christiana Allen
Alaw Rowlandson
Erin Doran (capt)
Alys Davis
Phoebe Ellis
Polly Wild-McGregor
Subs
Kiera Moore
Elise Jones
They may have been facing a strong Cardiff side linked to one of the biggest clubs in the Adran Premier, but Caernarfon did North Wales really proud in Sunday’s semi at Latham Park.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, the Cofis were much the better team in the second 35 minutes and had they scored earlier than in stoppage time they may well have had the impetus to go on and win the tie.
As it was, after netting to make it 2-1 in added time, Town chased an equaliser and were caught on the break as Cardiff scored a third to seal the tie.
City were on top in the first half and took the lead through Madison Lloyd on 21 minutes before Olivia Basham added a second after 25.
Caernarfon had plenty to do in the second half, but they got their game together and pressed hard for goals.
Unfortunately, it was not until one minute into overtime that Yasmin Wilcox opened the North Walians’ account.
In the fourth added minute, Lloyd scored her second for City and Caernarfon’s commendable effort was over.
Nonetheless, Tania Jones and Keith Fearns’ side could still end up with silverware this season, so there is still plenty to play for.
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