Cat-trick secures Felinheli a third cup in as many seasons, but Pwllheli give their all in classic final

NEWFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

CPDM Y Felinheli 5 (C Evans 7, 40 & 77 pen, Tugwell-Allsup 26, L Edwards 66)
CPD Pwllheli 3 (Moore 17, C Davies 35 & 42)

Scoring back-to-back hat-tricks in North Wales cup finals is a pretty special feat – but that’s what Catrin Evans does.

Since making her senior debut as a 16-year-old back in 2019, the left-wing wizard has knocked in 52 career goals in 50 club appearances.

Evans was undoubtedly the star of Sunday’s NEWFA Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Airbus Broughton, but both sides were very much part of a classic contest.

Treble-chasing Pwllheli, already North East Wales West Division champions and Betty Pickering Cup winners this term, were aiming to stop Tier 2 Felin adding the NEWFA crown to the North Wales Coast trophy they had lifted in the previous two seasons.

Both teams were in good form following a strong finish to the season in their respective leagues.

Felinheli came in as favourites due to their Tier 2 status, but Pwllheli were coming off the recent successful defence of their Tier 3 title so both teams held high hopes of lifting the trophy.

With a 4pm kick off and in the sweltering heat it was Felinheli who started brightest, their pace in the final third causing a lot of problems for their counterparts.

Felinheli dictated the play and with a good chunk of possession they went close on a couple of occasions early on, testing goalkeeper Sara Williams and hitting the side-netting from good interplay out wide.

In the 7th minute it was Felinheli who took the lead through the returning Catrin Evans, who would end up being pivotal as the game went on.

Nice play out on the right wing from Ellie Jones released Evans who was all of 25 yards out.

In true Cannonball Catrin fashion, she found the back of the net. Williams did get a hand to it but the strike was too powerful for her, Felin 1-0 Pwllheli.

The game settled into a pattern of Felinheli dominating open play and Pwllheli hitting them on the break with long balls. With Sian Moore’s pace out wide and Magi Hughes finding pockets of space they posed a threat on the counter.

In the 17th minute Pwllheli were level, Magi Hughes with a free kick just outside the box which bounced back into Felin’s penalty area and with the Adran North side not able to clear their lines Moore was in the right place to stab home from close range.

This didn’t affect the state of play as Felin carried on with their high pace and overlapping full backs and in the 26th minute were ahead again through Jenna Tugwell-Allsup.

This time the goal was down to an Evans assist. A poor clearance from Pwllheli ricocheted off Evans into into the path of the onrushing Tugwell-Allsup who finished expertly into the bottom corner with her right foot.

Ten minutes later Pwllheli were on par again. From a corner, Felin again uncharacteristically just couldn’t clear their lines and pinball inside the area led to Charley Davies tapping home.

Not to be deterred Felin kept their foot on the gas and pushed for the third goal, which came just 5 minutes after the equaliser, this time through the ever involved Evans. From a free kick 25-30 yards out, again Evans found the net and restored Felin’s lead.

For all of Felin’s possession they were being punished for not dealing with set pieces or high balls that Pwllheli implemented into their gameplan and just on the stroke of half time the Llyn side were level again. Another corner finished with Davies putting away her 13th goal in nine games.

A well contested half with Felin the better side in open play but Pwllheli a real threat from set pieces.

Half-Time: 3-3

The second half started in the same manner as the first but after 10 minutes the fitness levels of both teams were apparent with Felinheli clearly the fitter side and having another gear to go to – and that’s what they did.

In the 66th minute Tugwell-Allsup with some great work on the left flank squared it into the box and Llywela Edwards arrived in front of her defender and scored to give Felin breathing space.

From there on Pwllheli didn’t threaten much on the Felin goal with Catrin Beech not having to make a save of any significance.

Even though Pwllheli still battled Felinheli were just too clinical and in the 77th minute Catrin Evans sealed the victory from the penalty spot to complete her second hat trick in two cup finals.

Shannon Jones cut in from left wing back and making a penetrating run right through the heart of the Pwllheli defence into the box was clearly fouled by a tiring back four.

Evans made no mistake to make it Felin 5-3.

The Cae Seilo crew kept pushing for more with Hana Wellings going close, Evans again and Alaw Huws not far away, but it finished 5-3 with Felinheli claiming their maiden NEWFA trophy.

A gallant effort from both clubs in sweltering conditions, a good watch for any neutral.

Winning manager Aaron Jones-Evans: “I’ve said from the start of this season, especially since the turn of the year that if we work hard each and every week it will pay off in the end.

“Today it did. I’m so very proud of each and every player who have contributed to this club throughout the season, it’s not easy competing at this level with such a young squad but the balance between experience and youth has worked well for us this year.

“My players deserved something for their performances this year and I’m glad it was a cup final that they got what they deserved. Congratulations to everyone at the club. Onwards and upwards.”