My 5 favourite North Wales women’s football matches of all-time

I’ve only been covering women’s football since 2012-13, so have missed out on many, many classics over the years.

However, here are 5 I’ve covered over the past 13 years that I consider the best so far.

1 Llandudno v Wrexham (2021-22)

Llandudno 3 (Dutton 11, Hassall 57 & 88)
Wrexham 2 (Lightfoot 4, Dickens 44)
GENERO ADRAN NORTH – MARCH 20, 2022

New Zealander Indie Hassall wrote herself into Welsh women’s football history by scoring the two second-half goals which clinched the 2021-22 Genero Adran North league title for Llandudno.
Needing just a draw against Wrexham at Maesdu Park to become the Tier 2 league’s first champions, the Seasiders bounced back from a below par first half performance to turn a 2-1 interval deficit into a 3-2 victory.
The visitors knew only a win would seal them top spot and at the interval they were well on course to achieve it.
Amber Lightfoot fired the Red Dragons in front on just four minutes after the home defence failed to clear their lines.
Against the run of play the black and whites levelled in the 11th minute – a long range free kick from Jasmin Dutton which flew into the net like an exocet missile.
Yet Wrexham were so on top, they could easily have been out of sight by the break. Top-scorer Rosie Hughes missed some great opportunities before the away side did take a 44th minute lead, a free kick from the right by Tonicha Dickens flying in over keeper Sara Williams.
Llandudno had to improve vastly in the second half if they were to claim the title.

And the Seasiders did just that, upping their game considerably while Wrexham went off the boil, performing like they thought the game was already won.
It was all-square in the 57th minute after Katie Sharp’s weak back-pass failed to reach keeper Del Morgan and Hassall stabbed home the equaliser.
This was a significant turning point, as from here Llandudno got on top.
In the 65th minute the home side nearly went ahead when Stacey Tradewell’s volley deflected onto the post.

The introduction of substitutes Jess Jones and Sioned Phillips breathed new life into the Seasiders.
And in the 88th minute came the winner. Phillips delivered a tantalising ball from the right across the box and arriving on the scene was Hassall, who put away her second of the day to send the home supporters wild.
It was a fitting end to an incredible game.

2 CPD Pwllheli v Flint Town United (2023-24)

Pwllheli 3 (Sansome 20, Owen Hughes 48, L Thomas 106)
Flint Town United 2 (Hastings 74, R Hughes 85)
NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL- MAY 8, 2024

This was a true classic – a showdown between the North East Wales League East Division and West Division champions to decide who is the greatest overall of the 2023-24 Tier 3 season.
Both Pwllheli and Flint Town United had perfect 100 percent records in their respective divisions – every league game won.
Pwll were experienced campaigners, filled with players who had won much in the game, while Flint were the new kids on the block, only in existence for two seasons but fast becoming a force to be reckoned with.
The final at Llandudno’s Maesdu Park lived up to all expectations and then some.
Pwllheli settled much better and took a 20th minute lead.
Lois Thomas’ attempt from an angle was palmed out by Becky Bott, but from the rebound Magi Hughes set up Stacey Sansome who lashed high into the net.
Flint settled as the half went on, but Pwll had big chances to extend their lead before the interval, Magi Hughes clattering the bar.
There was no let up from the Llŷn Peninsula side after the break, Bott saving superbly from Thomas before the lead was doubled after 48 minutes.
Magi Hughes threaded a perfect through ball for Jini Owen Hughes to bravely poke past the advancing Bott.
Anyone who thought this might be the end of the story for Flint, however, were very much mistaken.
Rosie Hughes made a stunning run into the box, leaving a trail of defenders in her wake, but Pwll keeper Sara Williams produced a magnificent stop with an outstretched leg.
Flint heads never dropped and on 74 minutes they were right back in it.
Ruby Hastings burst into the box and made it 2-1 with a near-post strike.

Emily Edwards then concocted a magnificent tackle to deny Pwll almost a certain third before Flint went desperately close from a corner scramble.
Then in the 85th minute – the equaliser.
Zoe Stopford did superbly to win the ball and work it across the box where the gleeful Rosie Hughes found the empty net.
Pwllheli nearly won it before the end of the 90.
Jini Owen Hughes was through one-on-one but Bott produced her greatest save of the lot – a marvellous reaction effort.
Extra time and it was anybody’s game, but a moment of true quality ensured Pwllheli landed the trophy.
Lois Thomas broke down the right, beat her marker, relentlessly forced her way to the byline, cut inside and curled the ball into the corner for a goal worthy of winning any final.

3 Wrexham v Connah’s Quay Nomads (2022-23)

Wrexham 2 (Dickens 6, Hughes 83)
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1 (Harvey 10)
GENERO ADRAN NORTH – MARCH 26, 2023

Wrexham’s Genero Adran North win against Nomads was watched by a record crowd of 9,511 for a women’s domestic fixture in Wales.
And those present saw an occasion befitting such a large turnout with the visitors arguably unlucky to finish up pointless.
Already assured of the Tier 2 Genero Adran North title, Wrexham were presented with the trophy after the game.
The match itself was a very even affair, with Nomads making the better start.
Player of the day Kirstie Kural so nearly broke the deadlock in the third minute, her cheeky overhead kick bouncing back off the bar and the ball landing in the grateful arms of home keeper Delyth Morgan.
It was against the run of play when the champions took a sixth-minute lead.
From a free kick wide left, Tonicha Dickens hit an absolute pearler of a strike which flew in over the head of keeper Grace Murphy.
Nomads proved their good start was no fluke when they equalised in the 10th minute.
Following a corner which sailed over her head, keeper Morgan attempted to retrieve the ball near the byline, but she was outfoxed by some lovely skill from Elana Harley, who found Ella Harvey and she calmly slotted into the unguarded goal from an angle.
Soon after Kural was there to head off the line from a Dickens corner.
The chances dried up as the half progressed and the interval arrived at 1-1.
Quay again started the second half well, substitute Tegan Hewitt making a great run but firing off target.
Nomads’ Kylie Jones’ free header from a corner went close before Murphy did really well to fingertip an Amber Lightfoot attempt behind for a flag-kick.
The game still had a “could go either way” about it until the clinching goal arrived in the 83rd minute.
Sub Lily Whitefoot did really well to win the ball and find Rosie Hughes, who raced into the box, outpacing Megan Andrews and then side-stepping Murphy before finding the empty net.
It was the Hollywood-style ending the home crowd wanted, but not really what the game overall merited.

4 Kinmel Bay v CPDM Y Felinheli (2024-25)

Kinmel Bay 3 (Chesters 11, 56 & 58)
CPDM Y Felinheli 3 (Fflur Williams 35 & 53, Wellings pen 38)
(Felinheli won 4-1 on penalties)
BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP ROUND ONE – SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Although tier 2 favourites Felinheli eventually progressed on penalties, what a fantastic effort from tier 3 underdogs Kinmel Bay at Y Morfa.
Trailing 3-1 early in the second half, Naomii Oakley’s side produced a magnificent comeback to make it three-apiece – and they could have won it in normal time.
Bay took an 11th minute lead when Felinheli were caught napping at the back and Amy Chesters fired home clinically.
The hosts remained more dangerous going forward until the scores were levelled on 35 minutes.
Fflur Williams’ pace took her clear of the Kinmel defence and she finished well.
Three minutes later Felin had turned the game on its head when Millie Sergent tripped Jenna Tugwell-Allsup in the box and Hana Wellings scored confidently from the spot.
Felin could have been out of sight by the break but for two fantastic saves from Shelby Wild.
Eight minutes into the second half, the visitors took a stronghold on the tie when Ellie Jones delivered a low cross from the right and Fflur Williams whipped home a fierce and unstoppable right-foot shot.
However, within five minutes it was 3-3 – what a game this was turning out to be!

Connie Williams fed a lovely pass over the defence through to Chesters, who volleyed home a beauty.
And it was all-square when Chesters nodded in a Natasha Standing corner to the near post to complete a tremendous hat-trick.
Chesters and Seren Williams went close to making it 4-3 before sub Rubie Davies missed a great opening at the other end.
In added time, everyone gasped as Seren Williams connected with a corner, but her header was held by Catrin Beech.
Penalties it was and Felinheli held their nerves better from the spot to win the shootout 4-1.

5 Rhyl 3 Caernarfon Town 2 (2016-17)

Rhyl 3 (Harrison 15, Jones 78 and 90)
Caernarfon Town 2 (Thomas 28, Owen 46)
FAW WOMEN’S WELSH CUP ROUND ONE – OCTOBER 2016

Sixteen-year-old super sub Emily Jones struck twice in the latter stages to earn Welsh Premier side Rhyl a hard-fought cup success over North Wales League leaders Caernarfon at Belle Vue.
The hosts made the better start and took a 15th minute lead when Sue Harrison was put through on goal and displayed composure before slipping the ball past Cofis keeper Elena Julio.
Caernarfon took some time to settle but when they did make their mark it was with a special goal.
In the 28th minute Ffion Owen won possession with a fierce midfield tackle and passed to Catrin Thomas.
Thomas then combined with Heledd Evans on the right before the former Llandudno player led the home defence a merry dance, working her way into the box and netting right-footed.
The lively Paige Williams forced Julio into a superb diving save from a right foot piledriver and the Town keeper held the follow up from Ashleigh Mills.
Becca Bannister twice went close for Rhyl from long range and Mills was denied by Julio’s brilliance.
Williams then saw another fierce strike touched onto the bar by Julio before Cassie Thomas crossed low from the right and Harrison should have done better, but was not able to make a firm enough connection.
Half-time: 1-1

Rhyl had certainly created the better chances of the first half, but they were stunned when the visitors went 2-1 up in the opening minute of the second period.
Caernarfon skipper Ffion Owen let fly from 25 yards and found the net with a beauty.
After that Town looked fairly comfortable, Thomas going close to a third with a fine lob, although Julio did well again to thwart Mills before Harrison missed by inches.
The tie turned in the 78th minute when Rhyl sub Emily Jones robbed veteran defender Katie Davies and finished smartly for 2-2.
The home side were now pressing hard for a winner and it came in added time when a deep cross from the left by Mills was walloped into the roof of the net by Emily Jones at the back post.
Jones almost completed a hat-trick when she smacked the crossbar soon after her second goal.
Cracking cup tie.