Kirstie still thirsty for goals as Nomads storm into final

NEWFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL

Connah’s Quay Nomads 11 (L Hughes 11, Hobbs 40 & 72, Kural 64, 79 & 85, K Jones 66, 81 & 90+2, Hewitt 69, Harley 89)
Llanfair United 0

Holders Nomads stormed into the NEWFA Challenge Cup Final as hat-tricks from Kirstie Kural and Kylie Jones helped in an 11-0 demolition of Llanfair.

For captain Kural, it was a sixth treble of the season, including a six and a four-goal haul and moved her up to 33 for the campaign.

She has now netted 59 times in 43 appearances since joining the club at the start of last season – pretty useful for a midfielder!

Next season, as well as continuing to skipper the firsts in the Genero Adran North, Kirstie will also manage the Nomads Under-19’s, who play on Friday evenings.

Success is no stranger to a midfield maestro who has represented Manchester City and won the North Wales League title with Northop Hall.

She has also played for Aston Park, Wrexham, Chester and Ellesmere Port.

In futsal, her accomplishments include being a prolific goalscorer for Cheshire in the National Series and a key performer for Wrexham in the Midlands National League.

Kirstie was recently player of the match when Connah’s Quay took on Wrexham in front of 9,511 spectators and live TV cameras at the Racecourse.

Although Wrexham won 2-1 and lifted the Genero Adran North championship trophy they had secured earlier in the month, Kirstie stole the show on the day with a tireless midfield display which merited a goal at the very least.

League runners-up Nomads can still land some silverware this season if they beat Airbus in next month’s NEWFA Challenge Cup Final.

Today’s semi against Llanfair saw the Quay in charge from the moment defender Llinos Hughes made it goals in back-to-back games by breaking the deadlock on 11 minutes.

Shannon Hobbs made it 2-0 at half time, but it was in the second stanza that the Deesiders really took command.

Kural and Kylie Jones both pocketed hat-tricks, Hobbs added her second and there were also singles for Tegan Hewitt and Elana Harley.

Connah’s Quay team

Grace Murphy
Aimee Hopkinson (N/A 77)
Llinos Hughes
Shannon Hobbs (Ella Wall 77)
Tegan Hewitt (Polly Wild-McGregor 70)
Ella Harvey
Megan Andrews (Amy Clark 70)
Kylie Jones
Sienna Strapp (Elana Harley 52)
Kirstie Kural
Amber Bailey

PATHS TO THE FINAL

Connah’s Quay Nomads
R1 Jan 25: Wrexham (a) 3-3 (won 5-4 pens)
R2 Feb 19: Llangefni Town (a) 18-0
SF Apr 9: Llanfair United (h) 11-0

Airbus UK Broughton
R2 Feb 19: Amlwch Town (h) 2-1
SF Apr 2: Denbigh Town (a) 2-0

THE FINAL

May 21
Airbus UK Broughton v Connah’s Quay Nomads (venue TBC)