Away win at Adran Premier champions must rank as one of Llandudno’s greatest ever results

GENERO ADRAN NORTH TROPHY LAST 16

Swansea City 1 (Jenkins 61)
Llandudno 2 (Hassall 58, Davies 64)

Kelsey Davies’ 25-yard wonder strike booked Llandudno a place in the Genero Adran Trophy quarter-finals against all the odds.

Rank outsiders ahead of their long trip to South Wales, having never beaten one of the ‘big three’ – Swansea, Cardiff Met or Cardiff City – in at least 40 attempts across all competitions, today the big day arrived.

The visitors set up with a 4-4-1-1 formation: from left to right back – Becky Jarvis-Evans, Sofie Owen, Louisha Doran and Madison Williams – a middle four of Indie Hassall, Ffion Owen, Jasmin Dutton and Kelsey Davies, Mari Gibbard in the number 10 role and Maddie Williams as the lone striker.

Both sides started strongly, Caitlyn Bibby-Fry in the Llandudno goal producing a great save to deny Stacy John-Davis, as well as twice keeping out efforts from Katy Hosford.

Gibbard’s free kick was stopped by Claire Skinner, who also did well to hold Doran’s firm effort from a corner.

Quality play by Davies saw her beat four opponents before finding Hassall, who passed on to Ffion Owen whose fierce shot flew over.

Half time 0-0

It was all to play for in the second half – and it was the Adran North champions who took the lead on 58 minutes.

Doran fed a long free kick straight into the box for Hassall to get on the end of and lob over the keeper.

Just two minutes later the Swans would be level, Nieve Jenkins tucking home a fine ball from Jess Williams at the back post.

Llandudno would not be denied, and on 65 minutes Gibbard’s ball released Davies, who took on three players and sent a 25-yard beauty into the top corner.

City’s John-Davis turned the ball agonisingly wide before Jenkins had an attempt cleared off the line.

Llandudno could have added a third but Dutton’s free kick rattled the crossbar.

Despite what seemed an unreasonable amount of added time, the visitors held on for one of the most famous wins in their history.

Swansea, Adran Premier champions for the last three seasons and second in the current table, turned over by supposed ‘no-hopers’ Llandudno – the pride of North Wales.

Former Llandudno Ladies coach Mark ‘Heinz’ Jones said this back in 2017: “Cardiff Met, Cardiff City, Swansea, we’ve never beaten any of them.

“But on our day I believe we can do it.

“When we’ve got everyone available we’re a good team. One day it’s going to happen that we’ll beat one of the big sides.”

That day was today. Take a bow Llandudno.

TEAMS

Swansea City Ladies: Claire Skinner, Ellie Lake, Emma Beynon (captain), Kelly Adams, Ria Hughes (Lilly Owen 75), Nieve Jenkins, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis, Nia Rees, Jess Williams, Rachel Cullen (Gwen Horgan 65).

Unused subs: Chelsea Herbert, Chloe Chivers, Halle Brace.

Llandudno Ladies: Caitlyn Bibby-Fry, Louisha Doran, Madison Williams, Jasmin Dutton, Rebecca Jarvis-Evans, Maddie Williams (Shona Roberts 82), Mari Gibbard, Sofie Owen (captain), Kelsey Davies (Cara Hughes 90), India Hassall (Sioned Phillips 63), Ffion Owen.

Unused subs: Catherine Jones, Charlotte Perry.