Great result on the road for Henllan at high-flyers NFA

NORTH WALES COAST WOMEN’S LEAGUE – DECEMBER 7

NFA 2 (L Jones 34, Benjamin pen 71)
CPDM Henllan 2 (Fitzgerald 38, L Williams 62)

What a fantastic turnaround for Henllan – a 2-2 away draw against a team they lost 4-0 against at home just three weeks earlier.

NFA had more possession in the first half hour with Henllan looking dangerous on the break.

Both teams lacked the final pass, but the Rhyl-based hosts took the lead on 34 minutes when Loz Jones poked in a Rachael Thomas free kick.

Henllan drew level four minutes later when an Abby Cattell through ball put in Mabli Fitzgerald who cut inside her defender with her right foot and finished into the bottom corner with her left.

The second half was more end-to-end,as the pitch got heavier, both teams still trying to play football on the ground.

Just after the hour mark Henllan went 2 1 up when a brilliant shot by Lia Evans was tipped on to the post by Courtney Ingram and Lleucu Williams was first to react to tap in her fifth goal of the season.

NFA were awarded a penalty on 71 minutes for a foul by Evans. Sade Benjamin confidently fired into the top corner.

Both teams had chances to take the three points with Henllan nearly winning it in the last minute when substitute Ellie Wilkinson’s shot was well saved by Ingram.

It’s been a difficult month for Henllan, but to get a point away at NFA, who have been in the top 3 all season, was probably their best result of the campaign.

A CPDM Henllan spokesman said: “All 13 players put in a massive shift. We changed things round a bit today,with player of the match Magi Pierce moving back into defence alongside the excellent Elin Griffiths with full backs Gwenno Williams and Lydia Davies also superb and keeper Rhian Edwards brilliantly controlling her penalty area.

“After Kinmel Bay next week we will then have a month off to regroup and try to get more players on board for the new year.”

Huge thanks to CPDM Henllan for report and pictures