Saffron adds spice to Bay display with a two-goal show against in-form Welshpool

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE – APRIL 3, 2022

Trearddur Bay 2 (S Williams 51 & 60)
Welshpool Town 0

Saffron Williams was the toast of Trearddur after her two goals delivered the Anglesey team just their second North Wales League victory.

It was a sweet bit of revenge for Bay, who had lost 5-0 at Welshpool back in January. Pool had won five out of six in the league since the start of 2022, but finished up a beaten side at Lon Isallt.

On what turned out to be a fantastic day to play football, the weather was great and the Welshpool girls even came down early to go for a swim in the bay!

The game started with the ever present wind behind the away team, who used it to good effect.

They created a couple of early chances with one coming back off the bar as early as the fifth minute.

A makeshift back four for Bay saw Gail Paterson-Manning return to cover, joined by Stacey Evans at CB, Nicole Norris and Beth Mceachern making up the defence.

Considering that only Paterson-Manning had played at the back before, the girls defended superbly when under pressure helped by the midfield whenever required.

It wasn’t all defending from the home side as Freya Davies broke down the right and latched on to a through ball only to scuff the one on one chance wide.

Both teams played some good stuff in the first half, but it was Trearddur that felt the more fortunate going in at 0-0.

Half-time: 0-0

The second half started well for the hosts, now playing with the wind behind them, and like many times before the girls knew how important that breeze can be in the Bay.

Chris Davies’ side went close a couple of times through captain Ashleigh Jones and Freya Davies before Saffron Williams finished well when the ball fell to her feet inside the area after a packed box caused a great deal of confusion.

Bay made a couple of further chances but couldn’t convert, that was until the ball bounced just inside the Welshpool area and Saffron Williams once again was in the right place at the right time and finished well to make it 2-0.

The game was played out with both teams cancelling each other out, which meant the game finished 2-0 to the home side.

Winning manager Davies said: “We played Welshpool away in January and lost 5-0 which goes to show the improvements the girls are making this year.

“Huge thanks to Welshpool for making the long journey over to us and we wish them all the best for the future. Great bunch of players and managers/committee members.”

Trearddur Bay

Georgia Magee, Beth McEachern, Saffron Williams, Freya Davies, Stacey Evans, Gail Paterson-Manning, Nicole Norris, Abbie Manning, Chloe Taylor, Ashleigh Jones (c), Rhian Griffiths. Subs: Sarah Flower, Shelley McMullan.