Llangefni manager Dan Gregg hails his team’s latest performance as their season’s best

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Llangefni Town 4 (Coulson, Owen, Thomas, C George)
Llanystumdwy 1 (E Williams)

Dan Gregg rated his Llangefni team’s performance as their “best of the season” after they completed back-to-back home league wins.

Cefni played their fifth home game in a row as they welcomed Llanystumdwy to Cae Bob Parry on Sunday.

Jess Marshall returned in goal, freeing vice-captain Llinos Hughes to revert to her centre back position.

Megan Summers just missed out on a starting place as a precaution following last weekend’s knock.

In a strong start, Town’s Jen Cox showed blistering pace to get in behind the defence only to find Llanystumdwy keeper Sara Lacey quick off her line to clear the ball and a take bit of the attacker as well.

Cox showed a different side of her game when in the 17th minute she burst down the right and played a delicate ball with her weaker foot, splitting the Llanystumdwy defence and finding Eleanora Coulson to smash home for 1-0.

Into the 24th minute and more incredible work from Cox ended in goal number two. After another run, Cox’s fierce strike forced Lacey into a great stop, but the ball landed to Hannah Owen, who with work still to do, curled a beautiful finish into the corner.

Llanystumdwy gave themselves some hope when Ellie Williams capitalised on a ball over the defence to make it 2-1 at half time.

After a team talk focusing not giving the visitors any more hope, Llangefni came out firing and it took just two minutes for Ffion Thomas to curl a shot into the bottom corner making it 3-1.

Llanystumdwy stayed solid for much of the second half until on 81 minutes more brilliance from Cox saw her put her body on the line and take the two Llanystumdwy centre backs out of position, again taking a knock herself, but leaving the space for the on-running Catrin George to calmly side-foot into the corner.

It was Catrin’s first ever goal for Llangefni which was celebrated like a cup final win, showing the bond this team have.

Player of the match for Llangefni was Marissa George and Llanystumdwy’s award went to Hana Wellings.

Manager Gregg (sponsored by the Railway Inn) said: “I thought that was our best performance this season, just topping the narrow loss to unbeaten Bangor.

“So many performances I can praise, but I’d be here all day! Nia Ginnelly put in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. Llanystumdwy couldn’t handle her tenacity in the middle of the park, Marissa George 8/10 again and Jen Cox showing a creative side to her game.

“But I want to mention something massively important to me, Megan Summers and Frankie Davies coming off the bench to put two massive brave blocks in at the end of the game to keep the pressure off us shows that everyone has a part to play in the squad. Lara Cain and Megan-Tyne Wood also coming on and continuing to stretch the back four.

“Myself and Liam (Ewing) are so proud of this special group we have.”

TEAMS

LLANGEFNI TOWN

Jessica Marshall
Marissa George
Mared Roberts (Megan Summers-Jones 84)
Nia Ginnelly (c)
Ellie Coulson (Frankie Davies 87)
Jen Cox (Megan Tyne Wood 87)
Hannah Owen (Lara Cain 84)
Catrin George
Sharlee Owen
Ffion Thomas (Sian-Elin Morgan-Price 84)
Llinos Hughes

LLANYSTUMDWY

Sara Lacey
Leonie O’Hara
Alaw Wood
N/A
Jemma Rowlands
Tash Matthews
Ellie Williams
Hana Wellings
N/A
N/A
Grace Mpuku
SUB
Malen Williams