Kural stars as classic play-off final is decided on penalties

DAVE JONES REPORTS LIVE FROM MAES TEGID

Northern Tier 3 Play-Off – Sunday, May 31

Llangefni Town 2 (Coulson 43, Thomas 67)
Wrexham Foresters 2 (Kural 74, 85)
(Foresters won 4-3 on penalties)

Wrexham AFCs recent history may resemble a Hollywood movie, but the Foresters created their own blockbuster in Bala on Sunday.

Trailing 2-0 with time running short at Maes Tegid, lead actress Kirstie Kural turned the script on its head with a double strike to force a penalty shootout, where she then took over in goal and pulled off three saves and scored herself to inspire a stunning play-off victory.

While Central Wales North Ladies League champions Foresters have secured promotion to the Tier 2 Adran North next season, huge credit to losers Llangefni, invincible North Wales Coast Women’s League title-winners, who also deserve to compete at the higher level.

It was a play-off no-one deserved to lose, but unfortunately someone had to.

Neither keeper was tested until the 12th minute, when Foresters player-manager Kural hit a superb 40 yard free kick which Cefni keeper Katie Spruce performed marvels to tip over.

Llangefni began to assert themselves, having one headed effort from a corner cleared off the line before Amber Brown’s firm volley was well held by Kate Tasker.

In the 29th minute, a superb Kural pass released Louise Wilson, who sliced wide from an angle.

Kural then got in behind the Town defence and lobbed the advancing Spruce, but the ball landed on top of the net.

There was controversy in the 40th minute. Referee Rubie Bennett got in the way of an attempted Foresters pass so decided to give a drop-ball.

Foresters forward Laura Tobin shot for goal direct from 30 yards and found the net, but the official ruled ‘no goal’ and instead awarded the Wrexham side a corner.

In the 43rd minute, Cefni broke the deadlock.

A free kick was played into the box, Catrin Roberts broke to the byline and her low cross was finished off by Ellie Coulson.

Half-Time: Llangefni Town 1 Wrexham Foresters 0

Foresters applied some pressure early in the second half, but no clear chance came until the 62nd minute when Kural whipped wide from 12 yards.

Coulson’s flick on then found Brown, whose volley was smartly pushed behind for a corner by Tasker.

Catrin Roberts headed over from the flag-kick, but in the 67th minute the Llangefni lead was doubled.

A high bouncing ball in the box saw Lowri Thomas turn and volley skilfully, the shot proving too good for Tasker, who laid a hand to it but could not prevent it crossing the line.

At 2-0 it looked like Town were heading for victory, but with Kural on duty no game was ever lost.

In the 71st minute the player-boss had space in the box, but her hard strike was superbly pushed away by Spruce.

Brown’s 20-yard hit was held at the second attempt by Tasker, then came a glimmer of hope for the Foresters.

With Rebecca Foster now playing more advanced, the defender slipped a near pass into Kural, who this time took her opportunity.

Wrexham were now relentless, but Cefni continued to defend well as they have done all season.

Spruce got down sharply to foil Anna Thomas at her near post, then denied Kural in a one-on-one.

However, seconds later, Kural received the ball in the box via Keri Sampson, turned on a sixpence and scored left-footed for her 66th goal of the season.

Two more stunning Spruce close range saves, one from Tobin and another from Kural, prevented Foresters winning it in the 90+5 played by the official.

So it was down to penalties, just like so many other major finals this season.

And even before a kick was taken, there was a surprise in store as Kural donned the orange shirt and gloves.

PENALTIES

• Keeper Kural saves Beth Jones’ spot kick. 0-0
• Rebecca Foster’s effort is saved by Spruce, who is adjudged to have moved before the kick was taken. Foster scores from the retake, 1-0 Foresters
• Cefni’s Amber Brown finds the net – safe as houses. 1-1
• Anna Thomas of Foresters is denied by Spruce 1-1
• Cerys Gadd converts for Town. 2-1 Llangefni
• Savannah Miller scores. 2-2
• Kural saves from Marissa George. 2-2
• The player-manager herself nets to edge Foresters in front – 3-2 Foresters
• Good penalty from Catrin Roberts beats Kural. 3-3
• Laura Tobin’s kick is kept out, but Spruce moved again, say officials. Tobin’s second effort is blasted over. 3-3
• Mared Roberts’ pen is saved by Kural. 3-3
• Louise Wilson converts to win the play-off. 4-3 Foresters

WREXHAM FORESTERS

Kate Tasker, Keri Sampson, Louise Wilson, Isabelle Nardo, Laura Evans, Morgan Churchill (c), Rebecca Foster, Rebecca Sheel, Anna Thomas, Laura Tobin, Kirstie Kural. Subs used: Mollie Harper, Jade Tobin, Savannah Miller.

LLANGEFNI TOWN

Kate Spruce, Marissa George, Mared Roberts, Beth Jones, Catrin Roberts (c), Lowri Thomas, Ellie Coulson, Ffion Owen, Cerys Gadd, Amber Brown, Llinos Hughes. Subs used: Nia Ginnelly

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH

WREXHAM FORESTERS – KIRSTIE KURAL

Two goals, one penalty scored, three penalties saved – she’s a phenomenon

LLANGEFNI TOWN – KATIE SPRUCE

Four world-class saves from a keeper who is second to none in North Wales. So unlucky to be on the losing side