Tier 3 women’s football in North Wales enjoyed a landmark day on Sunday

Sunday was a truly fantastic day for third-tier women’s football in North Wales.

In fact, it was the best day Tier 3 has ever had.

Llanystumdwy, Llangefni Town and Wrexham Foresters all created major upsets by knocking second-tier teams out of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup,

Not only that, another level 3 side, Kinmel Bay, put up a brilliant show in defeat at Adran North high-flyers Flint Town United.

Tier 3 has never had an afternoon quite like it – and it was a landmark awakening for the women’s game in North Wales.

In general, third-tier teams which have been promoted to Adran North since 2021-22 have not set the world alight as yet, although Flint have certainly often looked the part since their rise in standard last season.

And in the Welsh Cup giant-killings have been rare, so to get three surprises in the same afternoon is a wonderful thing for our domestic grassroots game.

It can only give our Tier 3 clubs confidence moving forward.

Wrexham Foresters are already looking like a Tier 2 club in waiting.

They are obviously the best team in Central Wales North by some distance and their 4-2 win over established Tier 2 outfit Felinheli was quite a feat.

No surprise to see Kirstie Kural in the spotlight again, netting three times in the Foresters’ victory, putting her on 22 goals already in just 5 games.

What is being built in Wrexham looks really special and appearing well set to ensure the city has two top-flight teams in the near future.

Talking of Tier 2 teams in waiting, that certainly applies to Llangefni Town too.

Unfortunate to be denied a promotion play-off last season, Cefni have got on with the task in hand and made a brilliant start in their quest to win the North Wales Coast League, aiming to ensure they go up on merit and not via a committee room decision.

Dan Gregg’s side were worthy 1-0 winners on Sunday at Llanfair United, who were runners-up in Adran North ;ast season.

This was a true breakthrough result for the Ynys Môn team, who have acquitted themselves really well against Tier 2 opposition in the recent past, but at the weekend Cefni gave the biggest indication yet that they are ready for a higher platform.

Town have a gift for unearthing prolific goalscorers – Jennifer Cox, Jess Jones and now Amber Brown, Sunday’s match-winner and an 18-year-old on fire. All this will stand them in good stead.

Llanystumdwy’s elimination of Tier 2 newcomers Berriew was arguably the biggest stunner of all.

The village side has improved steadily in recent times and this current campaign has seen them start really well, but they still hadn’t managed a victory anything like the one at Berriew, which proved again our smaller, community teams in North Wales are on the up.

And Kinmel Bay excelled in an action-packed tie at Flint, leading 2-1 at half time thanks to an amazing strike from Seren Williams and a goal from the 16-year-old who could finish up the best of the lot – the net-machine named Lexi Walsh.

To win things, a fine goalkeeper is always a huge help and in Shelby Wild, outstanding at the Essity, they have one of the very best.

Wrexham Foresters, Llangefni Town, Llanystumdwy and Kinmel Bay – you did your communities and your pyramid tier majorly proud.

From here, greater things can be built.