Llangefni lose out narrowly after a great battle against an experienced Pwllheli side
NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE WEST
Pwllheli 2 (C Thomas 18, M Hughes 73)
Llangefni Town 1 (J Jones pen 88)
Report from Llangefni Town
Jess Jones boosted her remarkable record to 11 goals in five games this season, but her late penalty was not enough to save Llangefni from a narrow defeat at Pwllheli.
Cefni were looking to finally make a winning step after two close games last season against the hosts.
Due to both teams being brave and not wanting to cancel a game easily, the match went ahead in dreadful, but just about playable conditions.
Town captain Nia Ginnelly won the toss and decided to go against the strong wind and rain for the first half and try to soak up the pressure.
Pwllheli pinned Llangefni in with a high line and the wind made it hard for the visitors to make any headway up the pitch.
Two or three times, the visitors found themselves through on goal only for the offside flag to be raised.
After 18 minutes Catrin Thomas struck from distance to give the home side the lead.
Llangefni continued to battle with some fantastic last-ditch defending from Mared Roberts and goalkeeper Mia Gleeve showing safe hands even in the unpredictable conditions.
On the half time whistle the score was 1-0 to Pwllheli and Llangefni would have felt more than capable of turning it around in the second stanza with the wind in their favour.
The Anglesey side started the second half trying to pin Pwllheli back and pile the pressure on.
Chances came and went with some big misses when through 1 on 1, Siona Hughes saving two or three efforts.
Jen Cox then struck the woodwork for Cefni who were perhaps starting to think this wasn’t meant to be.
Then came a killer blow in the 73rd minute when a goal kick from Gleeve landed at captain Magi Hughes’ feet and she ran through to finish and give the hosts a two-goal cushion.
Llangefni tried to rally and after Hannah Owen was brought down, Jess Jones stepped up to score from the spot and ensure a nervy last 3 minutes for Pwllheli. The 17-year-old netted for a sixth game in a row.
Pwllheli showed every ounce of their experience though and saw the game out.
Llangefni manager Dan Gregg said; “First half I thought the team performed fantastically and stood up to some big pressure.
“To go in only 1-0 down I thought gave us a massive chance in the second half, but it wasn’t to be with a combination of some big missed chances from ourselves and some dubious offside calls.
“Big credit to Pwllheli, whose average age of the starting 11 was 27 and they showed the experience of every single one of them years and managed that second half superbly. It’s a tough one because 3 games on the bounce now we’ve come close to them, and I think they know that and respect us as a team at the moment which is a good sign for the girls in only our third year together.
“Big derby game next week (v Trearddur Bay) and we’ll be hungry to bounce back! Big thank you to Pwllheli for the pizzas and Erica Jones for wanting the game to go ahead as much as us. Both teams braved the conditions and showed a great example to football of all genders and age groups.”
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Pwllheli – Magi Hughes
Llangefni – Cara Hughes