North Wales Women’s League: Northop Hall earn a narrow win at Denbigh Town

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE EAST – FEBRUARY 11

Denbigh Town 2 (Kell 15, L Morris 82)
Northop Hall 3 (Gorecka 36 & 54, Allen 71)

Report: Ollie Beech

Brygida Gorecka struck twice for a Northop Hall side whose victory at Central Park leapfrogged them over opponents Denbigh into third place.

Despite goals from Beth Kell and Lucy Morris, Town came unstuck with a brace from Gorecka and an effort from Daisy Allen.

Denbigh manager Ellen Lawson named a host of changes as Carla Rizzi, Mali Thomas, Catrin Davies and Charlotte Cooper all made their way into the starting XI. Meanwhile, keeper Young took the captain’s armband for the first time.

Missing for the home side was top-scorer Ceri Purvis and the influential Natalie Harrison among others.

It took seven minutes for the first chance of note and it fell to the visitors, as Amanda Murphy let fly from range but Young made a superb low stop.

Town’s first sight of goal came two minutes later when Thomas’ corner was met by the boot of Kell, but her volley looped over onto the roof of the net.

The hosts began getting into the groove as some great play between Lucy Morris and Kell saw the latter fire towards goal but Bethan Hughes made the stop.

Eventually the deadlock was broken on 15 minutes as the returning Catrin Davies, in her first game at Central Park since March 2022, crossed for the 17-year-old Kell to drill home inside the box for her eighth goal of the season.

Northop Hall responded with plenty of pressure. With 23 minutes gone Hannah Williams struck a free-kick that was tipped over by Young.

After a real onslaught, the visitors restored parity, as Gorecka slid the ball past the goalkeeper with 36 gone.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town Ladies 1-1 Northop Hall Ladies

Within three minutes of the restart, Northop came inches from the lead. Williams, again stood over a free kick, launched the ball towards goal but only met the crossbar. They didn’t have to wait much longer to finally find the lead, as Gorecka ran through on goal and thumped the ball past Young.

With 20 left to play, Hall’s hero almost had her hat-trick. Gorecka on the right tested Young again but the keeper did well to palm the ball on to the post.

Less than two minutes later though the Flintshire visitors found their third. Unable to clear their lines, Allen had sight of the ball in a crowded box and poked it home.

Now Denbigh had to respond quickly. Kell had a chance one one-on-one but fluffed her lines when blazing over.

Denbigh did give themselves a lifeline when a ball into the box wasn’t cleared, and on the floor, Lucy Morris managed to swivel her body and fire into the bottom corner.

However, Town didn’t find the leveller and suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in the league this season.

Denbigh Town

Young (c)
Mali Thomas
Charlotte Morris
Emily Morris
Jessica Duff
Carla Rizzi
Anya Dolan
Beth Kell
Charlotte Cooper
Lucy Morris
Catrin Davies
SUBS USED
Ellen Lawson
Roslyn Fryer
Sophie Bancroft

Northop Hall

Bethan Hughes
Alison Whitley (c)
Daisy Allen
Isabella Nardo
Brygida Gorecka
Hannah Williams
Amy Davies
Amanda Murphy
Lucy Cosgrove
Nicola Duffield
Alex Stapleton
SUBS USED
Chloe Jones
Joann Bennion