Cracking Anglesey derby sees Llangefni prevail against a team they had lost to four times in a row

MATCH REPORT – NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Llangefni Town 3 (Cox 8, 41, F Thomas pen 59)
Amlwch Town 2 (E Roberts 27, T Hughes 75)

If any match showed how much Llangefni have improved as a team it is this one.

Against a team they had lost to in each of their four previous meetings, Dan Gregg’s side turned the tables.

Cefni welcomed Amlwch to Cae Bob Parry on Sunday. After losing 4-1 in a cup game and 4-0 in the league match to these opponents this season, Llangefni desperately wanted to turn things around.

Having played Flint and Caernarfon in their last two outings and taken 6 points, Cefni wanted to make it 9. The entire team wanted the same thing – a big win.

From the minute the whistle blew both teams wanted to make their mark, but after some brilliant passing and a well-placed header off Eleanor Coulson right into Jen Cox’s feet, Jen slotted the ball in the back of the net – 1-0 to the home side after 8 minutes.

After 27 minutes, Amlwch came back to make it 1-1. After a drop-ball decision from the ref, a strike from Emma Roberts flew into the net.

Manager Gregg showed his passion towards Llangefni, questioning the ref’s decision which resulted in a straight red. This was time for assistant-manager Liam Ewing to step up inside the dugout, and the entire team wanted to show the same amount of passion as Dan.

At 41 minutes Cox and her powerful strides and left foot got the ball past Amlwch’s keeper making it 2-1. It was Cox’s 16th goal of the season.

Half-Time: Llangefni 2-1 Amlwch

Both teams continued to battle on, with a few chances for each. But on 59 minutes, Coulson was fouled inside the box, the ever-consistent Ffion Thomas stepped up to take the penalty, and with a powerful strike to the right side of the net, Llangefni’s lead was 3-1.

Then it was time for Llangefni’s newly signed 17 year old Jess Jones to step onto the pitch, replacing Cox in attack. It didn’t take long for Jess to showcase what a brilliant asset she is to Llangefni Ladies.

At 75 minutes Amlwch striker Tesni Hughes scored a terrific goal to cut the deficit to 3-2.

But with Cefni’s powerful defence determined to not let anything else in and the attack keeping that ball up the pitch, the derby ended 3-2 to the home team.

Llangefni captain Nia Ginnelly said “These last 8 days have been amazing, it’s literally been all about football. We’ve worked so hard to get where we are, Liam taking us to the next level with fitness and Dan just getting the players in and making sure we play the best football.

“I can’t fault any of the girls these past 8 days. Marissa (George) missed the Amlwch game due to injury and Cara (Hughes) stepped up to the plate. Jess coming on for Jen and knowing the job can get done.

“The bench and the starting 11 are just as strong as each other and that’s amazing. The bonds, the friendships, having each other’s backs, screaming at each other on the pitch but it’s never come off the pitch once.

“This derby was very intense and I hate the word ‘feisty’ but I know both teams gave as good as they got. The crowd was amazing, we have our regulars that come to watch and we all hear them constantly (big shout out to Dick Trains for always supporting us).

“Our little fans that always want to help us out and come to every home game. Llangefni is on a high this week but it’s another tough game on Sunday against top of the table Bangor and that’s where our heads are at now.”

Vice-Captain Llinos Hughes said: “We’ve all worked so hard as individuals and as a team to get where we are today, and that’s all down to Dan and Liam.

“I can’t explain how amazing it felt to bag ourselves a third league win on the trot, especially with it being a derby game. We’re definitely showing people that we aren’t the “push-overs” that everyone thought we were.

“Both teams showed some brilliant football with such strong squads on Sunday and I can’t fault anyone for their effort on that pitch.”

TEAMS

LLANGEFNI TOWN

Jessica Marshall
Cara Hughes
Mared Roberts
Nia Ginnelly (c)
Ellie Coulson
Jen Cox (Jess Jones 68)
Hannah Owen
Catrin George
Megan Summers-Roberts (Sharlee Owen 89)
Ffion Thomas (Lara Cain 90+2)
Llinos Hughes

AMLWCH TOWN

Ceri Pritchard
Casey-Jane Evans (Llio Williams 70)
Emma Roberts
Cerys Gadd
Ellie Jones
Carol Lewis (c)
Kim Lodge (Cara Williams 70)
Tesni Hughes
Joanna Bramwell
Leah Jones
Sara Furlong (Meinir Thomas 45)