Cup shock! You cannot put a Prys on class – Felin into final

Felinheli (yellow and green) take on Nomads. All pictures: PATRICK CAIN – many thanks

NEWFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL

Connah’s Quay Nomads 1 (E Jones 69)
CPDM Y Felinheli 2 (Huws 11, 17)

Nomads’ three-year grip on the NEWFA Women’s Challenge Cup is gone – wrested away from them by an Alaw Prys Huws inspired Felinheli.

Aaron Jones-Evans’ side shattered the odds to set up a meeting with Pwllheli in the final.

Felinheli made the long trip up the A55 without star defender Llio Henshaw and midfield stalwart Hana Wellings but the squad Jones-Evans has built this season were more than capable of giving the runaway Genero Adran North leaders a tough afternoon.

And a tough afternoon is exactly what they gave them. Felinheli started the brighter of the two teams, were first to the second balls and strong in the tackles.

Jody Cain (8) powers into the Nomads box

They wrestled the initiative from the home side and took the lead after only 11 minutes. Felinheli worked the ball well down the flank to win a corner with Jordanne Greenough whipping a great ball into the area which the hosts couldn’t deal with and the in-form Alaw Prys Huws made no mistake with her finish.

Felinheli stayed on the boil, stifling any attacks from the Nomads and they were rewarded six minutes later through Huws again. This time Shannon Jones made a superb jinky run down the left and played a lovely ball to Huws, who again was calm under pressure to make it 2-0 to the visiting side.

Nomads knocked on the door throughout the rest of the half but Felin were in no mood to give them an inch as the half ended 2-0 to the underdogs.

The hosts started the second half strongly with Felinheli sitting back in their shape and absorbing the pressure.

This was the story of the second 45, Felin with a lead to hold onto and the pressure on Nomads to break the defence down.

Shannon Jade Jones (3) breaks down the wing for Felin

Sara Baines, Kelly Jones and Greenough had put in a monumental effort into the second half with all 3 playing their part at keeping the Deesiders at bay.

Nomads, with the quality they have, were creating chances but not any clear-cut ones to trouble the back 3, until on 69 minutes they pulled one back and on the balance of play in the second half they deserved a goal with Ella Jones finishing smartly from outside of the box.

Felinheli soaked the pressure for the next 20 minutes with chances going begging for Nomads. With the referee playing no less than 12+ minutes added time, Nomads would have one last chance with Phoebe Ellis blazing over the bar at point blank range.

Felinheli held on for a well deserved win and a place in the final.

Manager Jones-Evans.said: “I’ve said it from the start of the season that this team is capable of competing with anyone, we had to bed in new players and give youngsters their minutes and this takes time..but that patience is now showing as we are unbeaten in 6 since the Christmas break and we have played some tough opposition.

“We will not get carried away, we will keep working and quickly move onto the next game, it’s all about keeping this momentum.

“A word on Alaw Huws, she is a magnificent player who adds so much to this squad, we missed her in the first half of the season and now that she’s here and the squad has settled we can really concentrate on winning games.
“As I’ve said, we put today in the rear view mirror and we move on as we have a tough few weeks coming up, but today was a very good performance and the fruits of their labour showed on that pitch. We will keep working and switch our focus to next Sunday.”