Lois kicks off in typical style with hat-trick as Pwllheli progress in cup

Lois Thomas (white) notched a hat-trick for Pwllheli. Picture: FAW

NWCFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS – AUGUST 17

CPD Pwllheli 4 (J Owen Hughes 21, L Thomas 31, 39 & 56)

NFA 1 (Webster 90+2)

Lois Thomas began the 2025-26 season in typical style with a hat-trick as Pwllheli advanced to the Coast Challenge Cup semi-finals with victory over NFA.

Last season’s top-scorer for Pwll with 23 goals, Thomas showed typical sharpness in a strong attacking display from the home side.

The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when Thomas played a through ball into the path of Jini Owen Hughes, who fired into the bottom right-hand corner.

In the 31st minute the hosts doubled their lead when the roles were reversed. Play was switched from left to right by Jini Owen Hughes, she fed Thomas, who took on a defender and scored.

On 39 minutes it was 3-0. Magi Hughes diverted play to Sian Moore on the right. Moore took on the left-back and crossed low for Thomas to convert at the back post.

The fourth home goal arrived 11 minutes into the second half.

Lowri Hughes won a duel at the back and continued her run to midfield where she put the ball over the top to Thomas, who again beat an opponent and completed her hat-trick.

With player-manager Erica Jones standing in as goalkeeper, she kept a clean sheet until three minutes into added time, when Amy Webster pulled one back for NFA.

Nonetheless, a convincing win for Pwllheli, who will meet NFA at least twice more in the season ahead as both sides are in the North Wales Coast Women’s League.

The second half saw Pwllheli give debuts to new signings Awel Fflur Ellis and Lois Love.

PWLLHELI

Erica Jones, Bess Roberts, Lowri Hughes, Leanne Rees-Hughes, Eirwen Williams, Magi Hughes (c), Lois Thomas, Jini Owen Hughes, Sian Moore, Nia Jones, Hayley Rees-Jones. SUBS: Awel Ellis, Lois Love.

NFA

Courtney Ingram, Kayla Hargreaves, Megan Pursell, Cadie Griffiths, Sophia Culverhouse, Georgia Williams (c), Jasmine Mollatt, Molly Brown, Amy Webster, Rebekah McGuinness, Cerys Foston. Subs: Libby McClelland, N/A, Mana Daneshvar, Mia Wall.