CPD Y Rhyl 1879 women make it 15 unbeaten with another ruthless performance

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE REPORT – APRIL 17

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 11 (Laura Williams 5, Becca Bannister 20, 57 & 86; Tara Nattrass 23; Niomi Taylor 27 & 60; Emily Bentley 36; Candice Nellist 41, 54 & 71)

Llangefni Town 0

As Grassroots North Wales was at today’s game at Belle Vue, we thought we’d report the action in ‘timeline’ format.

5 min – GOAL: LAURA WILLIAMS’ fine strike from about 25 yards into the top corner puts 1879 on their way. RHYL 1879 1 LLANGEFNI 0

8 min – Llangefni keeper Gem Lancaster makes a great block at the feet of striker Emily Bentley

10 min – Another good stop from Lancaster, this time denying Niomi Taylor

16 min – Taylor’s effort bounces out off the keeper and Laura Williams hits the bar

20 min – GOAL: BECCA BANNISTER hits a stunning right footer from more than 20 yards out which rockets into the net. RHYL 2 LLANGEFNI 0

23 min – GOAL: TARA NATTRASS delivers a cross from the right which slips through the fingers of the keeper and into the goal. RHYL 3 LLANGEFNI 0

27 min – GOAL: NIOMI TAYLOR is through on the keeper and applies an easy finish. RHYL 4 LLANGEFNI 0

29 min – Taylor’s drives one at goal, but Lancaster gets down well to save

36 min – GOAL: EMILY BENTLEY scores at the second attempt after her first effort comes back off the keeper. RHYL 5 LLANGEFNI 0

41 min – GOAL: CANDICE NELLIST turns smartly on the edge of the box and scores with a cracking low shot. RHYL 6 LLANGEFNI 0

HALF TIME

47 min – Llangefni start the second half well. Ellie Coulson releases Jen Cox, who outpaces Sophie Haywood, bur her shot drifts wide.

54 min – GOAL: Bentley’s cross from the right is converted into a goal by NELLIST. RHYL 7 LLANGEFNI 0

56 min – Bentley’s low shot comes back off the post and the danger is somehow cleared

57 min – GOAL: Williams’ corner from the right arrives to BANNISTER who skillfully hooks home from an angle. RHYL 8 LLANGEFNI 0

60 min – GOAL: TAYLOR flicks home a header at the near post from a corner, RHYL 9 LLANGEFNI 0

61 min – Taylor heads in again, but is harshly adjudged offside.

71 min – GOAL: Bannister’s smart chip over the defence releases NELLIST to run into the box and calmly complete her hat-trick. RHYL 10 LLANGEFNI 0

80 min – 1879 hit the woodwork for a third time, this time Rachael Nattrass firing against the bar

81 min – Coulson and Cox combine well again at the other end. Cox’s burst of pace takes her into the box, but her effort on the turn is straight at keeper Loz Jones, who makes her first real save of the match to ironic cheers from the crowd

86 min – GOAL: BANNISTER makes it a hat-trick with a powerful finish from about 15 yards. RHYL 11 LLANGEFNI 0

88 min – Llangefni never stop trying. Coulson this time hits a volley which dips just over the bar.

FULL TIME: CPD Y RHYL 1879 11 LLANGEFNI TOWN 0

RHYL 1879
Loz Jones, Saskia Wynne-Thomas, Sophie Haywood (Cassie Thomas 55), Steph Farley, Emily Bentley (Trisha Harley 72), Laura Williams, Rachael Nattrass (c), Tara Nattrass, Becca Bannister, Candice Nellist, Niomi Taylor (Amy Woodbridge 64).

LLANGEFNI TOWN
Gem Lancaster, Nia Ginnelly (c), Megan Summers-Roberts, Alice Pascall (Joana Soares 72) Catrin George, Ffion Owen (Jessica Marshall 60), Sharlee Owen, Llinos Hughes, Ellie Coulson, Jen Cox, Lara Cain (Megan Wood 60).

MATCH SUMMARY

Top of the league and unbeaten, Rhyl 1879 were always destined to win this match.

With so much firepower in the team, it was likely quite a few goals would be involved too.

Hat-tricks for top-scorer Candice Nellist and Becca Bannister, a double from Niomi Taylor plus singles by Laura Williams, Tara Nattrass and Emily Bentley made it 11, however it could have been quite a few more with the hosts hitting the woodwork three times and forcing some good stops from goalkeeper Gemma Lancaster.

It was mainly all about defending for Llangefni, but they did produce two or three good attacks, with the up-front partnership of Jen Cox and Ellie Coulson blossoming all the time.

Cox’s ability to turn up the pace will surely bring her many more goals, while the tall Coulson is a really useful target player who uses the ball intelligently.

Lara Cain also impressed at times on the left, especially at the start of the second half, while brave keeper Lancaster made some great saves and could only be faulted for one of the goals.

These are learning matches for Llangefni against the stronger teams. The Anglesey girls have already won some of their ‘cup finals’ this season and 14 points is a really great effort.