Trearddur Bay women win back-to-back games for the first time!

Berriew 2 (G Jones 5, 44)
Trearddur Bay 4 (Cochrane 56, G Thomas 62 & 90, McMullan 67)

Trearddur Bay women celebrated back-to-back wins for the first time since they formed at the start of 2022-23.

Now in their third season, the Anglesey team followed up a 3-2 league triumph over Caernarfon Town a fortnight ago with a 4-2 Betty Pickering Cup success at Powys-based Berriew.

And all this after recovering from going two goals down at half time!

Bay made the long journey to Berriew with a squad of just 13 players.

The home side included 37-year-old prolific striker Gemma Jones, record goalscorer for Llanfair United, in their line up and she proved she still has plenty to offer.

Berriew started the most positively, and went ahead after five minutes when a loose ball was gathered by Jones, who slotted past Gemma Lancaster in goal for Trearddur.

Bay recovered well from this setback and had most of the possession and chances for a spell, but it was Berriew who found the back of the net again in the 44th minute via a good run and finish from Jones.

Despite the scoreline, Trearddur Bay felt really unlucky to be going into the break 2-0 in arrears.

Bay came out in the second half and instantly controlled possession and began creating chances.

Their defence were in command, midfield working really hard and strikers looking sharp.

In the 56th minute Lancaster gathered before kicking out of her hands and the ball was controlled nicely by Shelley McMullan, who played an overhead pass into the onrushing Caitlin Cochrane’s path. Irish student and speed merchant Cochrane turned a defender, rounded the keeper and finished coolly.

Bay made a substitution which saw Saffron Williams replaced by Clare Head. This led to a shuffle of positions, with Head slotting into CB alongside Chloe Taylor, Gemma Thomas pushing forward to left wing, and Freya Davies swapping over to the right.

Bay pushed for an equaliser, with Cochrane a constant threat and won a free kick deep into the home half. Gemma Thomas stepped up to take and hit a powerful shot that snuck past the goalkeeper. Two-two now and game on with 62 played!

The islanders now had the upper hand. Lots of chances came and went, with Amelia Roberts, Davies and Erin Mulvey all going close.

The breakthrough came when Davies played a nice ball out to Gemma Thomas, who beat her defender and in McMullan, who rounded her marker and the keeper and finished well from a tight angle.

This was McMullan’s last impact on the game as she was replaced by Katie Bolton. Despite playing previous games in goal, Bolton worked really well up front, winning lots of throw-ins and territory in the correct parts of the pitch.

Trearddur did not settle at 3-2, and continued to push on showing great grit and determination.

The ever threatening Davies was brought down as she drove towards the goal, and was awarded a free kick.

There again was Gemma Thomas to hit a clean strike into the top right of Berriew’s goal for her second of the game.

Special shout-out to the Bay defence, especially in the second half. Sian Roberts, Taylor, Head and Catrin Jones kept everything solid. Jones was a constant threat going forward down the left wing too.

A great team performance and deserved reward for the Ynys Mon travellers.

TREARDDUR BAY

Gemma Lancaster, Freya Davies (c), Chloe Taylor, Saffron Williams, Caitlin Cochrane, Erin Mulvey, Amelia Roberts, Catrin Jones, Shelley McMullan, Gemma Thomas, Sian Roberts. Subs used: Katie Bolton, Clare Head. Manager: Ali Thomas.