REPORT – A TRUE CLASSIC: North Wales League Play-Off Final – CPD Pwllheli 3 Flint 2 (AET)

NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL

Pwllheli 3 (Sansome 20, Owen Hughes 48, L Thomas 106)

Flint Town United 2 (Hastings 74, R Hughes 85)

After extra time

It was everything you could wish for from a final between the top two Tier 3 teams in North Wales.

A two-goal lead, a great comeback to force extra time and a winner worthy of gracing any major football occasion.

Llandudno’s OPS Wind Arena was the venue for a classic contest between the North Wales League East and West champions. The first final of its kind in the league’s history.

West title winners Pwllheli started much the better and threatened in just the second minute when Flint had to produce a clearance from close to the goal-line.

The Silkwomen defence was under constant pressure, Lois Thomas winning the ball and finding Katie Bowe, whose low strike did not carry her trademark power and Becky Bott saved quite comfortably.

Bott did well to hold a stinging Jini Owen-Hughes strike before Flint looked very unlucky not to earn a penalty for handball at the other end.

However, it was no real surprise when Pwll took a 20th minute lead.

Thomas’ attempt from an angle was palmed out by Bott, but from the rebound Magi Hughes set up Stacey Sansome who lashed high into the net.

Flint settled as the half went on and their best chance of the opening 45 came when Zoe Stopford headed just wide from a brilliant Ruby Hastings cross.

Pwllheli finished the half strongly. Thomas robbed Chloe Hughes and was through on goal but steered wide.

Then Jini Owen Hughes was denied by Bott and from the rebound captain Magi Hughes clattered the bar.

Half time 1-0 to Pwllheli, who had much the better of things.

There was no let up from the Llŷn Peninsula side after the break, Bott saving superbly from Thomas before the lead was doubled after 48 minutes.

Magi Hughes threaded a perfect through ball for Jini Owen Hughes to bravely poke past the advancing Bott.

Anyone who thought this might be the end of the story for Flint, however, were very much mistaken.

Rosie Hughes made a stunning run into the box, leaving a trail of defenders in her wake, but Pwll keeper Sara Williams produced a magnificent stop with an outstretched leg.

Flint’s very best opening to this point came on 67 minutes when great work from Stopford allowed Rosie Hughes to run clear on goal with just the keeper to beat.

A shot either side of Williams would have produced a goal, but Hughes fired straight at the keeper and the ball stayed out.

Pwllheli rallied, Jini Owen Hughes’ effort curling onto the top of the net before two long range attempts from Bowe were not far away.

Flint heads never dropped and on 74 minutes they were right back in it.

Hastings, whose pace down the right was a regular threat, burst into the box and made it 2-1 with a near-post strike.

Pwllheli came storming back, Magi Hughes seeing a 20-yarder tipped away before Charley Davies went close with a header from a Jini Owen Hughes corner.

Emily Edwards then concocted a magnificent tackle to deny Pwll almost a certain third before Flint went desperately close from a corner scramble.

Then in the 85th minute – the equaliser.

Stopford did superbly to win the ball and work it across the box where the gleeful Rosie Hughes found the empty net.

Pwllheli nearly won it before the end of the 90.

Jini Owen Hughes was through one-on-one but Bott produced her greatest save of the lot – a marvellous reaction effort.

Then, as the tackles flew in, Sansome let fly with a sublime 30 yard shot which beat Bott but hit the bar.

Full time 2-2 – another 30 minutes needed

Extra time saw both teams tested by the searing heat, but Pwllheli showed their superior experience by keeping possession the better.

The winning goal was something else.

Lois Thomas broke down the right, beat her marker, relentlessly forced her way to the byline, cut inside and curled the ball into the corner for a goal which resembled Mo Salah’s wonder effort for Liverpool against Manchester City in October 2021.

Hastings burst into the box at the other end, but drove into the side-netting.

A phenomenal final ended 3-2 in Pwllheli’s favour, but both teams were a credit to North Wales football.

And this pair will do it all again next Sunday in the Betty Pickering Cup semi-finals!

In the meantime, raise your glasses to CPD Merched Pwllheli – the 2023-24 overall North Wales League champions.

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH

Pwllheli – Jini Owen Hughes

Flint – Rosie Hughes

TEAMS

CPD PWLLHELI

Sara Williams

Charley Davies

Sioned Bohana

Jini Owen Hughes

Magi Hughes (c)

Sian Moore

Lois Thomas

Stacey Sansome

Leanne Rees-Williams

Lowri Hughes

Katie Bowe

Subs

Bess Roberts, Marsli Owen, Erica Jones, Erin Williams, Hayley Rees-Jones

FLINT TOWN UNITED

Becky Bott

Taylia Chaloner

Chloe Hughes

Emily Edwards

Daisy Hughes

Jennifer Haynes

Ruby McGilloway (c)

Zoe Stopford

Tegan Crockett

Rosie Hughes

Ruby Hastings

Subs

Charlotte Walters, Sinead Beck, Erin Heathcote, Olivia Owens