North Wales Women’s League West: Pwllheli make it a double over their title rivals

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE WEST – FEBRUARY 4

Llangefni Town 1 (J Jones 17)
CPD Pwllheli 2 (J Owen-Hughes 9 & 27)

For the second time this season there was so little to separate these great rivals but in the end Pwllheli were celebrating completing a league double over their Anglesey hosts.

Having defeated Cefni 2-1 at The Rec last September, Pwll triumphed by the same scoreline at Cae Bob Parry on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent record with a sixth straight win.

On top of the result, a huge plus for Pwllheli was the return ot midfield ace Katie Bowe as a second half substitute after a 16-month absence due to motherhood.

And another major boost for the Llŷn Peninsula side was the performance of goalkeeper Sara Williams, whose amazing saves denied Llangefni any reward from a game where they often so attacked.

A tremendous servant to North Wales football, mother-of-three Sara can win you a game at either end of the pitch.

She has been a league champion in the past with the likes of Llandudno and Caernarfon Town, and may well be on the way to another title with Pwllheli, who she joined this season.

Sunday’s battle of the top two saw a strong performance from both teams.

Pwllheli played with the wind in the first half and took the lead in the ninth minute.

From a build-up through the midfield, the ball was fed through to 17-year-old livewire Jini Owen Hughes, who supplied the finish.

Llangefni levelled after 17 minutes when their own teenage sensation, Jess Jones, bagged her 33rd goal of the season.

Pwllheli were ahead again on 33 when a ball from Erica Jones over the defence released Jini Owen Hughes, who was one-on-one with goalkeeper Mia Gleave and netted into the top corner for her eighth goal in five games.

Five minutes into the second half, on came one of North Wales’ greatest-ever players, Katie Bowe, for her first outing since October 2022.

The former Llandudno, Caernarfon Town and Mountain Rangers star made a steady return in her first game as a mum!

Llangefni piled on a lot of pressure in the second half, yet they could not get past Williams, who once more proved to be the player for the big occasion.

Both teams probably did not make the most of wind advantage. Pwll should have scored more in the first half and the same is true of Cefni in the second.

Both keepers were excellent, though, Gleave for Town and Williams for Pwllheli.

TEAMS

LLANGEFNI TOWN

Mia Gleave
Cara Hughes
Beth Jones
Mared Roberts
Catrin George
Nia Ginnelly
Ellie Coulson
Jen Cox
Hannah Owen
Jess Jones
Megan Summers-Jones
SUBS USED
Marissa George
Ffion Thomas
SUBS
Lara Cain
Kaitlin Toulmin
Llinos Hughes

PWLLHELI

Sara Williams
Bess Roberts
Leanne Rees-Williams
Catrin Thomas
Sian Moore
Erin Williams
Lois Thomas
Stacey Sansome
Jini Owen Hughes
Sioned Bohana
Erica Jones
SUBS USED
Katie Bowe
SUBS
Marsli Owen
Lily Dunwoody
Keely Jones