Injury to star striker mars Llandudno semi-final victory

NWCFA Women’s Challenge Cup semi-final

Llandudno 7 (C Jones 26, Donougher 28, E Jones 46+3, 47 & 73, S Roberts 80 & 89)
Llanystumdwy 0

While Llandudno coasted into the Challenge Cup Final the night was overshadowed by what looked like a serious injury for top-scorer Stevie Donougher.

The 31-goal star had to be stretchered off just past the half-hour after collapsing in agony trying to retrieve a through ball she had lost control of.

Play was held up for several minutes while the young Australian received treatment before being carried off on a stretcher.

Donougher’s involvement in the Genero Adran Leagues Promotion Play-Off final against Briton Ferry Llansawel on April 21 must now be in serious doubt.

We hope for better news and wish Stevie the speediest of recoveries.

Wednesday night’s semi-final tie between Tier 2 Adran North champions Llandudno and Tier 3 North Wales Women’s League West strugglers Llanystumdwy was pretty much one-way traffic in favour of the home side.

Yet the visitors gave their all, keeping the score at 0-0 for 26 minutes and defending bravely and doggedly throughout.

Goalkeeper Sara Lacey produced her usual inspirational performance and the Parc Dwyfor outfit’s heads never dropped.

Cliches used in some match reports like ‘never gave in’ and ‘always kept going’ to describe a team which suffered a heavy defeat can come across as slightly patronising, especially if the reporter was not present at the game and reliant on second-hand news.

However, Grassroots North Wales were at the match and can only express admiration for the determination Llanystumdwy showed.

Also impressive was the fact the visitors made the long midweek journey to Llandudno with a 16-player squad, proving the great commitment within the women’s ranks.

Llandudno, as would be expected, dominated possession and created numerous chances from the off, Lacey producing good early stops from a Maddie Williams header at the back post and blocking well at the feet of Ella Jones.

The goal eventually came when Erin Doran hung up a corner from the left and the ball found the net, defender Cat Jones being credited as the scorer.

In the 28th minute Doran threaded a beautiful defence-splitting pass for Ella Jones, who knocked the ball past the advancing Lacey and Donougher slotted into an empty net.

Sadly, this was the Sydney sensation’s last act of the evening. No-one ever wants to see anything like that happen at a football game.

Llandudno went 3-0 up in first half added time when Ella Jones finished well after a great build-up with significant contribution from substitute Kelsey Davies.

Two minutes after the restart it was four, Davies with another neat pass enabling Ella Jones to stab past the keeper.

Llanystumdwy then defended superbly again for almost half-an-hour before conceding, Lacey coming up with a great stop to deny Doran.

On 73 minutes, the Davies-Jones combination made it a hat-trick of assists and goals.

Stacey Tradewell fed the ball from midfield, Davies passed on and Jones completed her treble.

The latter stages were all about Llandudno defender Shona Roberts, who became an attacking force.

In the 80th minute, Roberts took on a Doran delivery and lashed a magnificent first-time shot which was even too good for the heroic Lacey.

Doran lofted a penalty high and wide, but a minute late Cara Hughes was the supplier from the right as Shona Roberts notched her second goal at the back post.

Shona could have made it a memorable hat-trick, but was denied by a brilliant Lacey block in the closing moments.