Esra! Esra! read all about it! Teenage substitute hits stunning hat-trick on Denbigh debut
NORTH WALES WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Denbigh Town 4 (C Morris, Gunes 3)
Flint Town United 1 (Collings)
Second-half substitute Esra Gunes wrote her own chapter in Denbigh Town women’s football history by scoring a debut hat-trick after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Esra, 18, is a product of Denbigh manager Ellen Lawson’s junior sides at the club. She returned to Town this season after a spell with NFA.
And what an impact the youngster made as she struck three times to earn Denbigh a third win in four league starts.
Flint took the lead after 35 minutes following a mistake from the home side which led to Jess Collings finding the open net.
After a solid defensive performance throughout the first half Denbigh found themselves back in the game three minutes before the break through Charlotte Morris, who poked in the ball after great work from Lois Roberts down the right-hand side.
Half-time: 1-1.
After a scrappy opening few minutes of the second half, Denbigh slowly started to find their rhythm and decided to make a change, teenager Gunes replacing Paige Morris for her league debut.
Gunes repaid the faith by scoring within minutes of being on the pitch. Emily Morris found herself with 25 yards in front of her, ran into the space and with pinpoint accuracy, the ball landed at the feet of Esra, who slotted home from the edge of the box.
From that moment on Denbigh found themselves comfortably in control of the game, Shannon Jones saw her effort from 35 yards rattle the crossbar and Lois Roberts continued to make an impact down the right.
The hosts made it 3-1 when Amber Hellon won the ball, crossed and Gunes finished.
Esra completed a memorable hat-trick from a Lois Roberts assist.