Hat-trick hero Jen Cox leads the way as Llangefni bounce back in stunning winning style

Jen Cox (blue) was a hat-trick hero for Llangefni. Picture: DAI SINCLAIR

North Wales Women’s Football League report

Llangefni Town 4 (Cox 3, Thomas pen)
Northop Hall 1 (Massey)

Manager Dan Gregg asked for a response from his Llangefni side – and he certainly got it!

Seven days after a disappointing home defeat to Pwllheli, Cefni bounced back in style on Sunday against Northop Hall at Cae Bob Parry.

Gregg’s pre-match words of inspiration had the ideal effect when after just six minutes Jen Cox went through on goal and calmly finished past Northop’s Bethan Hughes.

Jen Cox celebrates a goal. She has netted 19 goals in as many games in a Llangefni shirt. Picture: DAI SINCLAIR

The game then tilted back and forth with both teams enjoying spells of possession and producing some tidy football.

After 28 minutes Northop Hall won a free kick on the left-hand side of the Llangefni area and up stepped top-scorer Sarah Massey to bring her team level at the break.

Llangefni kept calm during the break and trusted they would get the breakthrough to regain control.

Ffion Thomas (blue) was on the mark again for Town. Picture: DAI SINCLAIR

And it came when Cox was fouled in the area and awarded a penalty, Ffion Thomas stepped up to calmly slot it away, scoring her fourth goal of the season and restoring the home lead.

It got better for Llangefni when during a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to Catrin George, who passed across for Cox to bag her brace.

Five minutes later came the moment of the game, Cox picking the ball up on the right side of Northop’s box. With her back to goal she pinned the Hall centre-back, turned and drove slightly inside before lashing a left footed strike from outside the area into the top corner leaving the frame still rattling.

Jen Cox shows typical tenacity on a run forward. Picture: DAI SINCLAIR

This will surely be one of the contenders for Llangefni’s goal of the season and left the regular attending fans buzzing.

The goal wrapped up Cox’s third Llangefni hat-trick and her 19th goal in 19 appearances for the club. It was also her eighth of this season. Score finished 4-1

Assistant-manager Liam Ewing said: “Absolutely awesome for everyone today, days like today are why I love football and why I love this team even more, it’s important that we carry this energy, tenacity, belief and pure relentlessness into the next game now.”

TEAMS

Llangefni Town

Jessica Marshall
Marissa George (Cara Hughes)
Mared Roberts
Nia Ginnelly
Ellie Coulson (Sharlee Owen)
Jen Cox (Frankie Davies)
Hannah Owen (Lara Cain)
Catrin George
Megan Summers-Roberts
Ffion Thomas
Llinos Hughes

She is nicknamed Cox in the Box, but here she is Jack in the Box. Jen Cox (No 10) leaps like a stag in the Northop Hall penalty area. Picture: DAI SINCLAIR

Northop Hall

Bethan Hughes
Jodie Davis
Alison Whitley
Daisy Allen
Debra Wright (Joann Bennion)
N/A
Brygida Gorecka (Gemma Williams)
Hannah Williams
Ellen Sharps
Lauren Chambers (Courtney-Jade)
Sarah Massey