Wrexham Foresters make it a Welsh Cup debut to remember

Not bad to score 17 goals on your Welsh Cup debut – and even better when an FAW photographer and TV cameras are there to capture the event.

Newly-formed Wrexham Foresters had already shown some of what they are capable of by winning their opening Central Wales North Ladies League game at Llanidloes Town 12-0 on September 14.

Seven days later they went five goals better – beating fellow new side Buckley Town ladies 17-1 at The Globe stadium on Sunday in the qualifying round of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup.

This exciting new team, part of a wider and ambitious club project for the Wrexham area, look well set to begin a rise up the pyramid.

Leading the way on Sunday was eight-goal star and player-manager Kirstie Kural, a name most North Wales women’s football followers will be familiar with.

The 36-year-old attacking midfielder is probably best known for her amazing two seasons with Connah’s Quay Nomads, where she netted a total of 59 goals in 44 appearances.

As captain, she played a pivotal part in the Deesiders winning back-to-back NEWFA Challenge Cups, as well as finishing runners-up in the Adran North in 2022-23.

Kirstie has also represented England Futsal in World Cup qualifiers, been part of a highly successful Wrexham team in the same sport and had a spell at Manchester City.

Her eight-goal haul on Sunday may be a record for the most goals in a women’s Welsh Cup tie, but it is not yet confirmed.

I remember Ava Suckley and Rosie Hughes scoring six in the cup for Wrexham in the past, but cannot recall another eight or more tally.

Despite the severity of the final scoreline on Sunday, Buckley struck first after just two minutes through Sophie Iball.

Wrexham soon turned the tables, 17-year-old Savannah Miller scoring an 18-minute hat-trick and Kate Tasker also bagging to make it 4-1.

It was then time for Kural to take centre stage, scoring the next five goals after 23, 25, 36, 41 and 45+1 minutes to make it 9-1 at half time.

Often a glut of first half goals is followed by very few in the second, but there was no let-up from Wrexham.

Kural brought up double figures and completed a double hat-trick on 52, then Chelsea Williams, a former Denbigh Town and CPDM Bangor star, pocketed a seven-minute treble to make it 13-1,

The unstoppable Kural added another two before sub Leah Davies and Charlotte Dykes completed the rout in the latter stages.

Who’s going to fancy taking on Wrexham Foresters in the next round? Are we allowed to dream of a potential clash against Wrexham AFC Women down the line?

BUCKLEY TOWN

Catherine Griffiths, Nicola Duffield (c), Macey Pritchard, N/A, Anna Thomas, Millie Robinson, Lili Lloyd, Sophie Iball, Bethan Hughes, Seren Strafford, Courtney Lancaster.
Subs used: Sian Pritchard, Ellie Vaughan

WREXHAM FORESTERS

Laura Fuller, Keri Sampson, Isabella Nardo, Laura Evans, Charlotte Dykes, Morgan Churchill (c), Kate Tasker, Savannah Miller, Chelsea Williams, Laura Tobin, Kirstie Kural.
Subs used: Naomi Tudor, Leah Davies, Paris Davies.