North Wales Women’s Football League: Cefni hit seven but Caernarfon put up great battle

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE – SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

Caernarfon Town 1 (L Jones 27)
Llangefni Town 7 (Coulson 11 & 34; J Jones 36 & 45+2; F Thomas 52, Cox 72, H Owen 87)

Report: Chris Jones (Caernarfon Town)

Last season’s third-place finishers Llangefni got their 2023-24 campaign off to a strong start at Coed Helen.

Both teams were fast out of the blocks, going hard at it in searing heat and were evenly matched in the early stages.

Teams were allowed to play for 20 minutes then take a break due to the heat.

Llangefni top-scorer for the past two seasons, Jen Cox, was heavily marked by Jazmine Hughes, who was constantly making good tackles as she always does.

Town’s Hannah Owen went close in the first 10 minutes but was blocked by fast-paced Caernarfon defender Elin Jones.

On 11 minutes Llangefni had a corner taken by Marissa George, from which Ellie Coulson scored.

Caernarfon came back after 27 minutes when Alaw Parry slotted a through ball for a lively Lisa Jones to score her first goal of the season.

Throughout the game Caernarfon keeper Poppy Jones was constantly kept on her toes, but a good combination between Cox and Coulson outflanked the home defence for Coulson to score her second in the 34th minute.

Poppy Jones made a great save from a Jess Jones free kick before it became 3-0 in the 36th minute.

Jess Jones found the net, capitalising on a slight mistake from a Poppy Jones goal kick.

Before the break, Jess Jones netted again after her first effort came back off the keeper. Jess also hit the crossbar.

Half-time: Caernarfon 0 Llangefni 4

Ffion Thomas, a very consistent goal-scorer last season, made it 5-0 seven minutes into the second half.

In the 72nd minute, a corner by Marissa George was headed home by last season’s league top-scorer Cox.

At the opposite end, Lisa Jones hit the post and Llangefni took advantage when the ball returned and Hannah Owen scored and celebrated by taking her top off just like Ryan Giggs did many years ago for Manchester United after his wonder goal knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup semi-final.

Unfortunately, unlike Giggs who got off scot-free, the referee did not like Hannahs celebration and showed her a yellow card!

With less than 10 minutes left on the clock Caernarfon’s Lisa Jones was fouled in the box only for Alaw Parry to blaze the penalty way above the bar similar to Chris Waddle’s effort during the World Cup against Germany in Italia 90.

Llangefni could have scored more only for some brilliant stops from Poppy Jones.

Caernarfon Town: Poppy Jones, Elin Jones, Eluned Williams, Lisa Jones, Awen Pritchard, Alaw Parry, Natalie Lovelock (Lauren Murphy), Jazmine Hughes, Beth Pritchard, Jessica Lane (Ceri Jones), Cara Owen.

Llangefni Town: Jess Marshall, Cara Hughes, Marissa George, Mared Roberts, Catrin George, Nia Ginnelly, Ellie Coulson, Jen Cox, Hannah Owen, Jess Jones, Ffion Thomas. Subs used: Beth Jones, Leonie Jones, Sharlee Owen.