Two fine second half strikes seal NFA three hard-earned points

NWC LLANDUDNO KIA WOMEN’S LEAGUE – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Denbigh Town 0
NFA 2 (Benjamin 56, C Thomas 80)

Two great second-half strikes from Sade Benjamin and Cassandra Thomas sealed a fine win for NFA which gave them a firm grip on third spot.

The team’s all-time top-scorer Benjamin made it nine goals for the season and an overall total of 59 in 61 first team appearances for a club she rejoined at the start of the current campaign.

After Sunday’s clash at Central Park remained goalless at half time the game was in its 56th minute before the deadlock was broken.

Claire Smedley received the ball out wide near the touchline and pulled it back to Benjamin on the edge of the 18-yard box.

Benjamin took a touch and fired across the keeper into the top right corner.

In the 80th minute, Benjamin turned provider for NFA’s second goal.

Cassie Thomas took a short corner with Benjamin and made a run round her. Benjamin played the ball back to her team-mate and, from a similar area to where the opening goal came from, Thomas shot beyond the keeper into the top right.

It was a first goal for NFA from the former Rhyl 1879 player-manager and Connah’s Quay Nomads assistant-coach.

While Denbigh were unable to make the scoresheet, they put up a fine effort and could take plenty of positives from their performance. They had just the bare 11 players available, while NFA had a 16-player squad on call.

NFA made it three wins this season over Town, having defeated them 5-1 away in the Welsh Cup and 3-0 at home in the league.

TEAMS

DENBIGH TOWN

Netty Young, Catrin Bell (c), Chiara Donnelly, Vanessa Hodgeson, Tia Adler, Carla Rizzi, Bethany Kell, Lucy Morris, Cara Jones, Paige Perkins, Talia Jones.

NFA

Courtney Ingram, Mana Daneshvar, Kayla Hargreaves, Claire Smedley, Cadie Griffiths, Georgia Williams (c), Sade Benjamin, Loz Jones, Alicia Duke, Rebekah McGuinness, Cassandra Thomas. Subs: Chloe Evans, Sophia Culverhouse, Molly Brown, Cerys Foston, Mia Wall.