Ffion-tastic! Winger wins the day for Llangefni in dramatic end at Dwyfor Park

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE – March 5, 2023

Llanystumdwy 1 (Davies 27)
Llangefni Town 2 (J Jones 35, Thomas 90+5)

A dramatic ending at Dwyfor Park saw Llangefni winger Ffion Thomas make up for a rare missed penalty by plundering the winning goal.

Cefni made the 65-mile round trip to the Llŷn Peninsula with top-scorer Jen Cox deemed only fit enough for the bench due to a recovering ankle injury and with Megan Summers-Jones serving a ban, Mared Roberts slotted into centre back alongside Llinos Hughes.

The game started cagily with both teams struggling to find any sort of rhythm but Llangefni would feel they had the lion’s share of chances, Hannah Owen, Jess Jones and Eleanora Coulson all failing to convert some big opportunities early on.

Town paid for it when Grace Mpuku fired a cross through to Kate Davies, who put the home side in front on 27 minutes.

The lead lasted eight minutes when Mared Roberts played a delightful ball to send Jess Jones through on goal and this time the teenager made no mistake with a calm finish to bring Llangefni level and grab her first goal for her new club.

Llangefni were awarded a penalty just before half time. With no penalty spot marked, the referee had to count the steps out and a rare Ffion Thomas miss followed.

The second half started just as flat as the first for both sides, scrapping to find a foothold in the game.

In the 60th minute the home side earned a spot-kick and again after the ref counting the steps out a penalty miss followed from the usually reliable Mpuku.

Llangefni reacted to the let-off by bringing on Cox. She made an instant impact, going close to finding the winner herself and then being sliced down on the left wing in the 95th minute.

Captain Nia Ginnelly delivered the free kick into the box and Ffion Thomas made up for the penalty miss with a powerful strike to grab the points and send Llangefni into wild celebrations!

Winning manager Dan Gregg, who celebrated a birthday the day after the game and will have been delighted with his early present, said. “Not the best performance today but as I and Liam (Ewing, coach) told the team before the game, this is a tough place to come at any level of the game. Men’s, ladies, juniors, everyone struggles coming to Llanystumdwy.

“We held on and showed some fantastic character to grab the late winner.

“Just when I think I’ve seen everything from this team they show me something else. Big credit to Llanystumdwy they made it so hard for us today and will feel they deserved something out of the game.”

TEAMS

LLANYSTUMDWY

Sara Lacey
N/A
Leonie O’Hara
Sarah O’Hara
Jemma Rowlands
Tash Matthews
Kate Davies
Hana Wellings (c)
Ellie Williams
Sian-Elin Morgan-Price
Grace Mpuku
SUBS
All 3 N/A

LLANGEFNI TOWN

Jessica Marshall
Cara Hughes
Marissa George (Sharlee Owen 46)
Mared Roberts
Nia Ginnelly (c)
Eleanora Coulson
Hannah Owen
Jess Jones
Catrin George
Ffion Thomas
Llinos Hughes
SUBS
Jen Cox (came on)
Alice Pascall
Megan Tyne Wood
N/A