Match Analysis: Welsh Cup – Kinmel Bay v CPDM Y Felinheli

Fflur Williams had an outstanding game for Felinheli at Kinmel Bay

GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES MATCH ANALYSIS

BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP ROUND 1

Kinmel Bay 3 (Chesters 11, 56 & 58)
CPDM Y Felinheli 3 (Fflur Williams 35 & 53, Wellings pen 38)
(Felinheli won 4-1 on penalties)

Such was the closeness of Sunday’s Welsh Cup tie at Y Morfa, it was probably fitting that penalties ended up deciding it.

In an ideal world, a replay would have been the best outcome, but they are long a thing of the past.

While this was tier 3 entertaining tier 2, there was very little between the teams on a rainy afternoon in Kinmel Bay.

What a lucky weekend I’ve had when it comes to choosing which matches to cover.

Saturday saw CPD Y Rhyl 1879 topple Flint Mountain in a minor men’s Welsh Cup surprise, then the following day in the women’s tournament Kinmel Bay and Felinheli shared a six-goal corker.

Both ties went to penalties, so I had a double dose of late drama alongside two super games.

Bay and Felin really did lay on a great variety show – fine goalkeeping, outstanding defenders, battling midfield maestros and some marvellous finishing from the forwards.

One player I was really not surprised to see shine was Kinmel’s hat-trick star Amy Chesters.

I remembered from her past appearances for NFA that she had an eye for goal and today she was sublime – razor sharp finishing and always a threat up front.

She scored twice last week and added another three today. At just 24, seriously a player to watch.

Shelby Wild was superb in goal for the hosts, Without her two great saves near half time, the visitors could have been out of sight.

Jen Small, Sarah Williams, teenager Lexie McEvoy and Alys Marsh-Hughes were very solid in the first half, as was substitute Connie Williams after the break.

The experienced Natasha Standing was a rock, youngsters Millie Sergent and Chloe Scanlan played with real maturity.

Long-serving Georgia Williams was a hive of industry, captain Seren Williams was everywhere and so nearly scored the winner, while Chesters was a different class.

Felinheli’s young back-line faced a tough afternoon, but with dependable young keeper Catrin Beech behind them, Aleisha Powell, Sara Baines, Llio Henshaw and Lois Williams all emerged with credit.

Experienced trio Jordanne Greenough, Hana Wellings and Jenna Tugwell-Allsup worked incredibly hard, Ellie Jones and Llywela Edwards had many fine moments in attack and Fflur Williams was tremendous up front, two cracking goals and majestic hold-up play and passing.

As for the subs, Rubie Davies and Jordan Roberts were true livewires and both stepped up to the plate and converted great penalties in the shoot-out, Experienced new signing Danielle Barnfield added composure in attack in the later stages.

Overall, everyone could feel relatively happy at the part they played in an enthralling cup tie, but the mood in the two camps was contrasting at the final whistle.

Kinmel Bay were buoyant having played out of their skins, whereas perhaps for Felinheli it was more a case of being relieved at getting through with a much-changed line-up and several regulars missing.

After the match, Bay’s ever upbeat Georgia Williams said she could only feel proud at her team’s display, whereas Felin manager Aaron Jones-Evans was disappointed with his side’s showing, stating the only positive from the afternoon was the result.

In cup football, though, the result is all that counts.

From here, Kinmel Bay can surely take strength and motivation into what will be a testing campaign in North Wales Women’s League West, while Felinheli know they have to perform better to make an impact in Genero Adran North this term.