Genero Adran Trophy – big wins for CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and Connah’s Quay Nomads
BANGOR, GWYNEDD, WALES - 3rd SEPTEMBER 2023 - Rhyl's Sade Benjamin during CPDM Bangor vs CPDM Y Rhyl 1879 in Round 1 of the Genero Adran North at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)
GENERO ADRAN TROPHY
Group One
Llanfair United 2 (Williams 58, Davies 66)
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 6 (Benjamin 2, 39 & 86; Duke 15, R Thomas 77, L Davies 79)
Sade Benjamin made it two hat-tricks four days apart and seven goals in her opening three games of the season as Rhyl 1879 took Llanfair United apart at Mount Field.
The visitors made the breakthrough after just two minutes when captain Rachael Thomas played a ball into the box which bounced between goalkeeper and defender and Benjamin reacted quickest to slot home.
After 15 minutes it was 2-0. Thomas’ corner was cleared by Llanfair only to the edge of the box where defender Alicia Duke drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
Thomas was again the provider on 39 minutes when she fed a through ball into the path of Benjamin, who applied a composed finish.
To their credit, Llanfair produced a decent fightback after the break.
Emma Williams cut the deficit on 58 minutes and Harriet Davies made it 3-2 with 66 on the clock.
Typically, it was the skipper who calmed Rhyl’s nerves when after 77 minutes, Rachael Thomas carried the ball past a couple of defenders before launching a beauty into the top right-hand corner from 25 yards.
Thomas then reverted to setting goals up again when her corner was brilliantly headed home by young talent Llio Davies with 79 gone. Four assists from the captain!
And Benjamin completed her hat-trick after 86 with an impeccable free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box which flew into the top corner.
NFA 0
Connah’s Quay Nomads 6 (Ellis 16 & 41, Hobbs 24, 54 & 60, Bailey 31)
Shannon Hobbs maintained her great start to the season with a treble as the Nomads triumphed 6-0 at NFA in the Adran Trophy.
The 24-year-old striker made it five goals in two matches for the Deesiders, who once more impressed on their travels, having won 5-0 in their opening league encounter at Airbus seven days earlier.
Sixteen-year-old prospect Phoebe Ellis got the visitors up and running with a 16th minute close range finish after the home defence failed to deal with a Hobbs cross.
Ellis turned provider on 24 minutes when her lovely delivery released Hobbs to fire past keeper Katie Spruce.
Amber Bailey made it three before Ellis bagged her second before the break.
Hobbs added two more in the second half to complete a comfortable victory for the Nomads, Ellis and Megan Andrews with the assists.