Match of the Day – CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1 Llandudno 2

GENERO ADRAN NORTH

CPD Y RHYL 1879 1 (L Williams 58)
LLANDUDNO 2 (Alcock 8, F Owen 23)

Having beaten Rhyl 8-0 and 10-0 in two previous meetings this season, Llandudno’s winning margin today at Belle Vue was a whole lot closer.

Missing a number of key players, Tudno travelled with the bare 11 and in the end will have been relieved to return home with the three points.

The visitors started strongly, Maddie Williams’ exquisite touch putting Ffion Owen through on five minutes, but her fierce effort came back off the post.

Three minutes later, the champions took the lead.

Sioned Phillips broke down the right and sent in a great low cross which debutant Julia Alcock somewhat fortunately ricocheted into the net off her shin.

The hosts rallied, Becca Bannister’s volley forcing Caitlyn Bibby-Fry into a rather uncomfortable save before Llio Davies set up Chelsea Evans in a good position but she blasted over.

Rhyl keeper Thomas was lucky when a poor clearance hit closing down striker Williams and the ball could have gone anywhere but rolled wide of the goal.

Thomas then kept out an Owen shot and Williams missed from the rebound.

It was 2-0 in the 23rd minute when keeper Thomas let the ball run away from her following an Owen shot.

Williams retrieved the ball, delivered low from the byline and Owen applied a beautiful finish with the outside of her right boot high into the net.

Stacey Tradewell cleared the bar from 25 yards, Cara Hughes went close with a low drive after winning a tackle on the left, then just before the break Rhyl’s Rachael Thomas was not far away with a dipping long-distance hit.

HALF-TIME: Rhyl 0 Llandudno 2

Llandudno should have wrapped the game up at the start of the second half, Thomas pulling off good stops from Tradewell and Alcock, then Williams was played through in the box but fired past the post.

Kayla Hargreaves and Laura Williams came on for 1879 and made an immediate difference to their attacking potential.

Around the hour mark, Williams picked up the ball about 25 yards out and sent a left-foot beauty into the net beyond Bibby-Fry.

Laura has a unique habit of scoring stunning long-range goals at Belle Vue.

Llandudno were now forced to defend more, but also sent defender Becky Marsh-Evans up front to pose added attacking threat.

The visitors had numerous chances to force a third, but too often the final pass or end shot was off target. Rhyl also produced some great defending under pressure.

Williams did go close after good work from Tradewell and late on Ffion Owen’s 25-yard cracker came back off the bar.

With the likes of Jasmin Dutton, Sofie Owen, Erin Doran, Louisha Doran, Indie Hassall, Madison (Little Maddie) Williams, Hannah Smith and Kelsey Davies all missing today, it was inevitable Llandudno would find it harder to reach previous high standards.

Rhyl are really missing out-and-out strikers Emily Bentley, who has signed for Nomads, and the injured Candice Nellist this season.

They were also without attacking source Niomi Taylor today. Young players Olivia Blythe, Llio Davies, Millie Canon-Twyford and Kayla Hargreaves are developing really well for 1879.

TEAMS

RHYL 1879

Bethan Thomas
Saskia Wynne-Thomas
Sophie Haywood
Cassie Thomas
Hana Eagles (Kayla Hargreaves 46)
Olivia Blythe
Becca Bannister
Rachael Thomas (c)
Llio Davies
Chelsea Evans (Laura Williams 52)
Millie Canon-Twyford

LLANDUDNO

Caitlyn Bibby-Fry
Shona Roberts
Cat Jones
Becky Jarvis-Evans
Stacey Tradewell
Maddie Williams
Charlotte Perry
Sioned Phillips
Cara Hughes
Julia Alcock
Ffion Owen

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH

CPD Y Rhyl 1879

Laura Williams – tremendous goal and really livened up the home side after coming on

Llandudno

Ffion Owen – lovely goal, some dazzling runs, always the most dangerous away player going forward