Denbigh Town and Kinmel Bay women’s football teams welcome Scottish visitors Annan Athletic

Article: Jimmy McNally

A women’s football team from Scotland with strong Denbighshire and Flintshire connections visited North Wales for a two-match tour at the weekend.

Annan Athletic Ladies of the regional SWFL South made the trip down the M6 for their Welsh visit, taking on North Wales Women’s League teams Denbigh Town Ladies and Kinmel Bay Ladies.

Before the trip, Annan unfortunately had a fair few call-offs due to injuries, but still wanted to fulfill their tour date, and opted to play 9 a side games against the two Welsh hosts.

Denbigh Town 1 Annan Athletic 2

The Scots left their base camp in Rhyl to head over to “the rec” at Denbigh to play their first game on Friday evening.

Annan boasted a familiar face in Jordan McNally, a former Denbigh Town player, as well as a youth for Kinmel Bay.

In the absence of their club captain, vice-skipper Jordan had the honour of leading the team into battle.

There were a few worries among the Annan ladies as their top scorer, Rhian Williams, was running late on her journey down, but they started the game in her absence.

The game was played in 3 x 30 minute thirds.

Denbigh looked the brighter of the sides in the opening exchanges, with Esra Gunes causing the visitors some problems and forcing the Annan number one Courtney Nelson into a couple of great reaction saves.

Annan grew into the game as the 3rd went on. Jordan McNally’s quick feet and eye for a pass was starting to open up Denbigh slightly, but Carla Rizzi at the back proved to be a tough obstacle to overcome.

Denbigh had a young girl, Isobel Owen, who looks like she’ll have an exceptionally bright future ahead of her. She was quick, strong on the ball and didn’t let her youthfulness deter her against experienced opposition. She’s certainly one to watch at Denbigh Town.

The 3rd ended 0-0.

Changes were made in the second third, with the introduction of Elen Evans for Denbigh, who looked extremely composed on the ball and was influential in the middle of the park, and it saw Annan bring on sub keeper Pam McCaig and their leading markswoman, St Asaph-born Rhian Williams.

Annan hit the ground running straight away, with brilliant play from Williams, who thundered down the right flank, cut in on her left and slotted Annan in front.

This buoyed the visitors somewhat and Annan continued to press, with Williams grabbing a second goal.

Denbigh moved Amber Hellon over to mark Williams, and she certainly put a shift in against the Annan livewire and started to somewhat nullify the threat of the impressive attacker.

2nd 3rd 0-2.

In the final third of the match, the game became a little ragged, the rain continued to pour, and you could see some tired legs come into play.

Annan had switched back to the impressive Nelson In goal, who made another great save to add to her two in the first third.

With seconds remaining, Annan had a corner, whipped in by Williams, and McNally clattered a header at goal, only to see it superbly blocked on the line by Rizzi, who really stood out.

Denbigh countered whilst McNally pleaded her case to the ref that it had crossed the line, and they managed to grab a consolation with the last kick of the game through Lisa Howard.

FT 1-2.

Kinmel Bay 3 Annan Athletic 1

Annan made the short trip from their Rhyl base to Kinmel Bay, where they were beaten comfortably by the well-drilled hosts.

The Scots did not really get going, and admitted that a mixture of 2 games in 3 days and a convivial evening in Rhyl may have had its part to play in their performance, but the management team of Gary Cother and his assistant Brady Hutchison wouldn’t take anything away from the hosts.

Kinmel Bay opened the scoring with a superb strike from Seren Williams, chipping Courtney Nelson.

Annan’s own Welsh wonder, Rhian Williams, managed an equaliser for the visitors, but it would be the hosts’ day to celebrate.

Caitlin Blackwell made it 2-1 after a great assist from Jen Small, and it would be the same duo again to wrap up the victory.

Small was again the provider for Blackwell, who was given player of the match from the Annan officials.

McNally did manage to hit the woodwork twice, but that’s as close as she’d get to grabbing a goal on her visit to her former home.

• Rhian Williams was born in St Asaph, but moved to the small Scottish village of Ecclefechan as a little girl. Her dad’s family are from Halkyn, and her mum’s family are Pritchards from Denbigh.