Lleucu leads Henllan to memorable victory in opening league clash
NORTH WALES COAST KIA LLANDUDNO WOMEN’S LEAGUE – SEPTEMBER 14
CPDM Henllan 1 (L Williams 67)
Denbigh Town 0
Lleucu Williams scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half which secured Henllan a fabulous win over their Vale of Clwyd rivals.
It was an ideal result for the greens in their opening league match of the campaign.
Despite having lost last season’s 53-goal top-scorer Beth Roberts to Flint Town United, Henllan proved they can still test and beat the best, Denbigh having finished runners-up in the East Division last term.
The game started off very cagily with two even sides battling it out in a typical local derby with no quarter given at Cae Llan in Llannefydd on Sunday.
Denbigh had the better chances in the first half, forcing Henllan keeper Rhian Edwards to make two brilliant saves.
The crucial moment came on 69 minutes when captain Magi Pierce tackled a Denbigh defender and the ball fell to Lleucu Williams, whose left foot shot was palmed upwards by Netty Young but crept under the bar to the delight of the home team.
Denbigh piled on the pressure in the last 20 minutes, looking dangerous from corners. The villagers, with some goalmouth scrambles, last-ditch tackles and heroic defending somehow hung on in the dying minutes.
A Ceri Purvis shot was magnificently saved by the ex-Town keeper to keep a clean sheet intact.
Siwan Lloyd and Elin Griffith were outstanding in defence and 16 year old Lydia Davies made some crucial interceptions, Magi Pierce had an excellent game in her new role in midfield as did match winner Williams and Lia Evans, who covered every inch of the pitch.
Ella Simcox, Mabli Fitzgerald, Abby Cattell and Mali Roberts all put in a shift and a half, while Henllan keeper Edwards celebrated being named player of the match on her 30th birthday.
A Henllan spokesperson said: “It’s been a difficult pre-season with a lot of change at the club with long serving coach Gerwyn Jones leaving and Dave Edwards coming in with a change of system and fresh new ideas.
“With Ella Allen, Rhian Edwards and Beth Roberts no longer at the club, numbers have been quite low over the summer, Jade Scott and Amy Woodbridge have signed from Rhyl but we are still looking for a few more players.”
HENLLAN
Rhian Edwards, Lia Evans, Magi Pierce (c), Lleucu Williams, Mali Roberts, Mabli Fitzgerald, Abby Cattell, Lydia Davies, Ella Simcox, Elin Griffith, Siwan Lloyd.
SUBS: Amy Woodbridge, Gwenno Williams, Crystal Bradbury-Jones
DENBIGH TOWN
Netty Young, Lucy Morris, Jessica Duff (c), Ceri Purvis, Vanessa Hodgeson, Tia Adler, Lowri Claybrook, Natalie Harrison, Amber Hellon, Catrin Davies, Charlotte Morris.
SUBS: Bethany Kell, Lois Roberts, Abi Cooke, Chiara Donnelly, Paige Perkins.