Stand-in keeper Erica the hero as Pwllheli take points, but Llangefni show yet more improvement

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Llangefni Town 1 (H Owen 17)
Pwllheli 2 (M Owen 21, Thomas 64)

She was voted North Wales’ greatest ever for her skills as a defender, but on Sunday Erica Jones’ abilities as an emergency goalkeeper made her a star.

Last year Erica was named the Queen of North Wales football after receiving the most selections from 30 players from different eras asked to choose their all-time dream team.

And on Sunday the veteran proved again she is prepared to take on any role to help her team.

Pwllheli travelled to Anglesey with just 11 players – getting a team together has often proved a problem this season – but they managed to eke out the win at Cae Bob Parry.

Big credit to Llangefni also, a still developing team, for making such a good contest of it. But for Erica and perhaps more clinical finishing they could easily have claimed the points.

It says a lot about how far Cefni have come when they are disappointed to lose 2-1 to a team like Pwllheli. The visitors may have had the bare 11, but it was a good 11!

Llangefni were looking to improve on a pre-season friendly defeat at the hands of Pwll.

The hosts started well, controlling the game, looking solid and threatening in behind with some blistering runs from Jen Cox.

The pressure paid off when a ball into the box from Ffion Thomas landed at the feet of Hannah Owen, who tapped in to put the home team in the lead and record her second goal of the season.

Pwllheli responded quickly and within four minutes Mari Owen brought them level.

Half-Time: 1-1

Second half and the game followed the same pattern with Llangefni having the lion’s share of the chances.

Top-scorer Ellie Coulson went through twice one on one with the goalkeeper only to see Erica Jones save well on each occasion.

Cox’s turn came then for a one on one which again was matched by the Pwllheli stopper.

Ffion Thomas then had a strike saved before a sucker punch of a goal from Lois Thomas put the visitors in the lead.

Llangefni piled on the pressure for an equaliser and nearly grabbed it but for more goalkeeping brilliance and the save of the match when Coulson struck from the right-hand side. The ball was arrowing into the top corner only for Jones to somehow keep it out.

Cefni manager Dan Gregg: “Can’t fault the team today, dominated the chances! On another day we’d have buried half of them and ran away comfortable, just one of them days, I think. To dominate a game against a Tier 2 side from last year shows how far we are continuing to grow. Girls were fantastic! We need to bring it into next week now.”

Player of the match for Llangefni: Marissa George.