Preview – Betty Pickering Shield final: Caernarfon Town v Northop Hall – Sunday, May 19

PREVIEW – BETTY PICKERING SHIELD FINAL
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
AT BRYMBO SPORTS AND SOCIAL COMPLEX
CAERNARFON TOWN v NORTHOP HALL

Two of North Wales women’s football’s most successful teams will meet in a cup final this Sunday (May 19).

Caernarfon Town and Northop Hall take on each other in the final of the Betty Pickering Shield, a competition within the North Wales Women’s League for clubs eliminated from the BP Cup.

In last month’s Shield semi-finals, Caernarfon edged past Trearddur Bay 2-1, while the Hall saw off Welshpool Town by the same score.

Both Sunday’s finalists have a proud footballing history, the pair having featured in the Welsh Premier Women’s League in the past.

Caernarfon were North Wales Women’s League double winners in 2016-17, while Northop Hall were league champions in 2015-16 and 2017-18.

The Cofis were also Welsh Premier League Northern Conference champions in 2009-10 and 2010-11, and in years gone by competed well in the English pyramid’s Northern Combination. They reached the Welsh Cup finals of 2006-07 and 2010-11.

In more recent times, Caernarfon have been going through a rebuilding process with a very young squad.

Players who could make a difference on Sunday include Lisa Jones and Amber Brown, both regulars on the scoresheet this term.

Northop Hall were top-four finishers in the North Wales Women’s League East this season and showed plenty of promise.

Alex Stapleton, who scored both the Flintshire side’s goals in the semi-final, could be a player to watch on Sunday, as well as top-scorer and lively striker Brygida Gorecka.

Both clubs were approached for squads but none were available.

LOCATION OF FINAL

Sunday’s final will take place at Brymbo, kick off 2 pm.

Grassroots North Wales spoke with incredulity yesterday that the Wrexham area ground was chosen to stage the Betty Pickering Cup Final on May 26 between Pwllheli and Llangefni Town – a round trip of about 140 miles apiece for both teams.

It’s no better for Caernarfon, who face a 70-mile both ways journey on Sunday, but it’s somewhat less of a trek for Northop Hall – 12.2 miles.

Again, it seems ridiculous to expect three teams to travel so far. Surely there were nearer grounds available?

The second final actually takes place on a Bank Holiday weekend, which only adds to the problem with the prospect of extra traffic.

Undeterred, Caernarfon are taking a bus of supporters down to Brymbo, but nonetheless many spectators will miss out on these two finals due to the distance issue.