MATCH OF THE DAY: Bangor’s Menna Evans shines like a beacon in team’s draw at Rhyl

GENERO ADRAN NORTH

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 0
CPDM Bangor 0

One of North Wales football’s best young prospects shone like a beacon at Belle Vue on Sunday.

Wales Colleges international Menna Evans, 18, did everything but score in a player of the match display for visitors CPDM Bangor.

Picked for the national colleges squad which took part in the recent Rome International Series, Bangor’s top-scorer this season was involved in games against Italy, Lithuania and Canada.

The experience will have done her no harm as Evans’ pace and aggression up front at Rhyl was a stand-out feature in a performance where the away side will feel unfortunate they did not go home with all three points.

Bangor began Sunday’s Genero Adran North coastal derby confidently, their slick passing football and quick closing down of the opposition securing plenty of possession.

In the 15th minute, Evans’ electric pace took her clear of the home defence and she slotted the ball past advancing keeper Bethan Thomas, but narrowly missed the target.

On 32 minutes, pressure from Evans in another Bangor attack almost resulted in an own goal.

Cerys Macdonald’s free kick did not miss by much, while Becca Bannister’s effort for the hosts just before the interval swirled wide.

Rhyl began the second half in much better fashion and were unfortunate not to earn a penalty when Rosie O’Brien went down under challenge in the box from Catrin Hughes.

From the resulting corner, substitute Alicia Duke and Llio Davies worked to win the ball and set up Eleanor Thomas, who blazed just over.

Steadily, though, the Lilywhites attacks petered out. They found themselves in many good positions, but too often tried for the perfect pass which never came off.

Bangor’s defending was outstanding and the visitors once again began to dominate in the closing stages.

Evans let fly with a tremendous 30 yard shot which Thomas did really well to tip over.

Five minutes from time, Evans won the ball down the left, cut into the box and saw her shot blocked, Macdonald hitting the rebound wide.

And deep into added time it was Evans again a threat for Bangor, a shot following a powerful run narrowly missing.

Already assured of fourth place, Rhyl ended the league season with an impressive seven points out of a possible last nine.

CPD Y RHYL 1879

Bethan Thomas (Lauren Jones 83)
Saskia Wynne-Thomas
Sophie Haywood
Cassie Thomas
Rosie O’Brien
Becca Bannister (c)
Laura Williams
Chelsea Evans (Alicia Duke 46)
Chloe Evans (Ella Simcox 83)
Llio Davies
Imogen Williams (Eleanor Thomas 46)

CPDM BANGOR

Becca Elliott
Erin Basinger
Ffion Bee
Erin Burns
Catrin Hughes
Georgia Lewis
Menna Evans
Mia Roberts
Cerys Macdonald
Cerys Parry (Alys Davis 70)
Amy Mano