Simply the Bess-T – Merched Pwllheli reach another cup final!

Pwllheli match-winner Bess Roberts

NEWFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL

CPDM BANGOR 0
CPDM PWLLHELI 1 (B Roberts 97)
(after extra time)

Substitute Bess Roberts delivered the all-important extra time goal which sent Pwllheli into another cup final.

After winning the North Wales Women’s League play-off final last season and finishing runners-up in the Betty Pickering Cup, the Llŷn Peninsula ladies maintained their fine form in knockout competitions with a narrow victory at Bangor City Stadium on Sunday.

In the final, Pwllheli will face either holders Connah’s Quay Nomads or CPDM Y Felinheli.

Pwll entered Sunday’s semi on an eight-match unbeaten run, while Bangor were in good nick themselves having not lost in three outings.

While Bangor operaie in tier 2 Genero Adran North and Pwllheli in the third-tier North Wales West division, the teams were pretty evenly matched on paper.

And they proved for the most part inseparable on the pitch too.

Both sides hit the woodwork in normal time and while Bangor had the wind in the second half, they did not pose too much threat to the away goal.

Pwllheli played the ball around well at times, but were unable to make the all-important breakthrough.

Still 0-0 at the 90, an added half-hour was needed and in the 97th minute the deadlock was broken.

Stacey Sansome released substitute Sian Moore who ran on and broke through the home defence before setting up Bess Roberts for a tap-in finish.

Soon after a Bangor counter looked set to bring a goal when Pwllheli keeper Sara Williams mistimed a clearance, but a last-ditch block from Lowri Hughes prevented an equaliser.

In the second period, Pwllheli were on top when Erica Jones and Moore combined to find Lois Thomas, whose shot came back off the underside of the crossbar. The visitors claimed a goal, but the referee waved play on.

TEAMS

Bangor
Catrin Roberts, Carol Lewis, Ffion Bee (c), Erin Burns, Georgia Owen-Lewis, Seren Macdonald, Menna Evans, Mia Roberts, Erin Basinger, Ashleigh Jones, Cara Aston. Subs used: Cerys Parry, Alys Davis, Cadi Jones, N/A.

Pwllheli
Sara Williams, Marsli Owen, Jini Owen-Hughes, Lowri Hughes, Hayley Rees-Jones, Magi Hughes (c), Lois Thomas, Stacey Sansome, Cassie Ogilvy, Leanne Hughes, Sioned Bohana. Subs used: Bess Roberts, Sian Moore, Nia Wyn Jones, Erica Jones.