Llandudno promotion dream is over after conceding four goals in last half-hour

GENERO ADRAN LEAGUE PROMOTION PLAY-OFF FINAL

Briton Ferry Llansawel 4 (Witts 60 & 87; Walkley 71; Jenkins 90)
Llandudno 0

After holding their powerful opponents to 0-0 for an hour Llandudno’s promotion dream fell apart in the last 30 minutes at Latham Park, Newtown.

Adran South champions Briton Ferry made up for the disappointment of last year’s unlucky play-off final defeat to Wrexham by getting it right the second time around against Tudno to secure Adran Premier football next season.

In lifting their respective championship titles, Llansawel won 12 out of 12, scored 55 goals and conceded just five, while Llandudno recorded 13 victories, suffered just one loss and netted 80 times.

On those stats, the promotion play-off final looked pretty much a 50-50 affair, even though Tudno top-scorer Stevie Donougher was unavailable after suffering a serious leg injury in the previous match which will keep her out for some months.

However, the commentators on RedWall+, who broadcast the final live, rather disrespectfully bigged up Ferry from the start and constantly referred to Llandudno as underdogs, whose best chance of victory apparently lay in defending deep and hitting on the counter.

As it turned out, the duo behind the microphone were proved correct as the final was largely one-sided in terms of goalscoring opportunities, although for an hour Tudno were right in the contest and battled for everything.

Not the most balanced of commentaries, though, especially the raucous celebrations which greeted the Ferry goals.

In a first half where the closest call was BFL defender Lowri Ridings heading against the bar from a corner, Mia Roberts and Shona Roberts were especially impressive at the back for the Seasiders.

Early in the second half, Llandudno looked to put some attacks together and had two handball appeals in the box turned down.

Alison Witts then hit the woodwork from 30 yards before Laura-May Walkley’s strike was tipped over by keeper Megan Robinson.

However, Ferry’s threat from set-pieces was always going to be Tudno’s undoing.

On the hour that proved to be the case, as Megan Kearle sent over a corner and the tall Witts rose highest to head home.

That goal changed everything as BFLupped the pace and another Kearle flag-kick resulted in a headed net-finder from Walkley on 71 minutes.

Tudno were reduced to 10 players after 79 when Stacey Tradewell was shown a second yellow for a mistimed tackle.

Llandudno’s best moment of the day came on 86 minutes when Llansawel won a penalty for a foul on Walkley, but Robinson pulled off a fantastic save from Witts’ kick.

From the resulting corner, though, Witts gained instant revenge by nodding in her second of the final.

Three corners, three headers, three goals – game, set and match.

Fleur Jenkins made it 4-0 in added time.

A bad day for Llandudno, but a great season overall where they have won a second Tier 2 title in three seasons and dominated the Adran North goalscoring chart to such an extent, their players occupied the top four places.