Wrexham AFC Women news – ex-Liverpool and Wales defender signs, Welsh Cup semi venue is confirmed, Hughes strikes late to beat Ponty

Wrexham AFC Women have added a top quality international defender to their squad for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

Olivia Fuller, 26, has been training with the club in recent times, building up her fitness while recovering from serious knee damage.

Originally from Prestatyn, teacher Fuller has been capped for Wales all the way up to under-19 level.

Wrexham recently lost the services of key defender Louisha Doran for the remainder of this season with a knee injury, so Fuller’s addition to the Red Dragons squad will be welcomed by the management team.

The new signing’s first team was Prestatyn Girls, who she represented for a couple of years before joining Liverpool Centre Of Excellence at the age of 9.

She stayed with Liverpool, where she won the FA Youth Cup, for 10 years before moving to Sheffield FC, then onto AFC Fylde of the tier 3 FA Women’s National League North in 2017.

Fuller suffered ACL and meniscus damage in the penultimate game of 2021-22 and has not played since following surgery and a lengthy recovery process.

However, she now hopes to play a part in Wrexham’s quest for glory in the Adran Premier and Welsh Cup this season.

Fuller’s football background is highly impressive.

Her proudest moment came on June 1, 2014, when she captained Liverpool to a 1-0 victory over Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Girls’ Youth Cup Final at the MK Stadium, MK Dons FC.

Another memorable occasion came when playing for Wales U-16’s against England. The Welsh were losing 1-0, until Fuller equalised directly from a free kick.

She was involved in the Wales teams from the ages of 13-19, captaining the U-16’s, and took part in tournaments in England, Ireland, Scotland and European competitions in Latvia, Denmark and Macedonia.

COMING UP FOR WREXHAM AFC WOMEN

Wrexham AFC Women complete their Adran Premier Phase One fixtures at home to Cardiff Met on Sunday (February 11) at The Rock, 5.10pm kick-off.

The Red Dragons will then return to competitive action in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup semi-finals against The New Saints next month, before competing in the top-four for the second phase of fixtures, starting the following week.

The semi-final venues for the 2023/24 Bute Energy Welsh Cup have been confirmed.

Both matches will take place on Sunday 3 March as clubs look to book their places in this season’s final.
Current holders Cardiff City face South Wales rivals and three-time winners Swansea City at the SDM Glass Stadium in Bridgend (KO 2 pm).

Meanwhile, The New Saints and Wrexham will go head-to-head at Flint’s Essity Stadium (KO 5.10 pm).

This tie has been selected for live broadcast by S4C and will be available to watch on Sgorio’s online platforms – S4C Clic, Facebook and YouTube – and your smart TV.

MATCH REPORT

Wrexham AFC Women 3 (Hughes 41 & 89, C Jones 75)
Pontypridd United 2 Payne 35, Turner 68)

Rosie Hughes returned to the Adran Premier scorers chart peak with her 11th and 12th league goals of the season as Wrexham left it late to edge past Pontypridd.

Hughes found the net for the first time in 2024 following a reduction in game time in recent weeks due to an injury.

Wrexham came from behind twice to see off Ponty at The Rock on Sunday.

After Lili Jones had rattled the crossbar twice for the hosts, then heroics from ex-Caernarfon Town keeper Klaudia Wojtyczka, the visitors opened the scoring against the run of play, as Lauren Payne fired into the top corner on 36 minutes.

Hughes levelled just five minutes later when she was in the right place to arrive onto Carra Jones’ excellent cross and fire home.

No9 Hughes almost doubled her tally as she struck the bar in additional time before the break.

Ponty regained the lead in the 67th minute, as Jasmine Turner’s free-kick from 40 yards flew into the top-right corner.

Wrexham made it 2-2 on 75 when Hughes forced Wojtyczka into yet another brilliant save. Carra Jones was first to the rebound, and her effort was also denied, but eventually she managed to bundle the ball in

Just as time was running out, Lili Jones’ brilliant through ball released Hughes, who rounded the keeper under pressure before firing into an empty net to secure her brace and a hard-fought victory.