Twelve ex-Rhyl 1879 players on show in Henllan versus NFA clash

NORTH WALES COAST LLANDUDNO KIA WOMEN’S LEAGUE – NOVEMBER 16, 2025

CPDM Henllan 0
NFA 4 (L Jones 11 pen, 51, R Thomas 14, Benjamin 43)

It proved to be quite a CPD Y Rhyl 1879 reunion at St Asaph Leisure Centre on Sunday.

The Henllan side featured ex-Lilywhites Ella Simcox, Jade Scott, Amy Woodbridge and new signing Ellie Wilkinson, while eight former 1879 players – Kayla Hargreaves, Sophie Haywood, Sade Benjamin, Rachael Thomas, Lauren Jones, Alicia Duke, Cassandra Thomas and Chloe Evans – were in the NFA squad.

NFA took the lead after 11 minutes when the referee gave a handball against Jade Scott,and Lauren Jones stepped up to convert the penalty.

Player of the match Rachael Thomas made it two three minutes later when she got the final touch from close range after a corner.

In the 41st minute Henllan’s Siwan Lloyd, who had been brilliant throughout the first half, suffered a really bad knee injury after an awkward landing,with the game being delayed for a few minutes,

Just before half time the Rhyl-based team made it  three when Thomas took a quick corner to Benjamin, whose cross-shot eluded everyone and landed in the back of the net.

Benjamin then turned provider six minutes into the second half, laying the ball across for Lauren Jones to tap into an empty net for her fifth goal in four matches.

After 63 minutes, Lleucu Williams had Henllan’s best chance of the game when she went through one on one against the keeper but Courtney Ingram made a great save.

The game then turned into a bit of a dull affair with the floodlights coming on the only highlights in the last 20 minutes.