Archive Classics: Bethesda’s newly-formed women’s team win first-ever match (2018)

Having covered North Wales football for close on 40 years, I’ve attended and reported on hundreds if not thousands of games across the pyramid as well as in Europe.
Here’s another in a series of classics from the archives

Rhyl Development 1 (Davies 3)
Bethesda 5 (Beddall 33, Hughes 48, Midwinter 54, 66 & 80)
North Wales Women’s Football League Division Two – September 16, 2018

Three stunning finishes from player-manager Katie Midwinter ensured Bethesda Ladies’ first-ever match produced a comfortable victory at Ffordd Derwen.

Rhyl took a third minute lead when a cross from the right picked out an unmarked Catrin Davies, whose left foot trickler found the net.

Bethesda responded with some dangerous looking attacks, the hosts using every means possible to thwart the lively Chloe Hughes and Midwinter.

Eventually the equaliser came in the 33rd minute when ex-Wales international Hughes used some neat trickery in the box before a fierce shot was pushed into the air by the home keeper and Holly Beddall managed to bundle the ball home.

Rhyl were unfortunate not to regain the lead before the break when a long-range effort came back off the bar.

Half time: 1-1

The second half saw Pesda take total control and on 48 minutes Hughes reached a bouncing ball in the box ahead of the keeper to nod home.

In the 54th minute it was 3-1 when Midwinter needed no back-lift at all to curl a perfect shot into the right-hand corner from 15 yards.

The visitors hit the post before stretching their lead in the 66th minute, Midwinter’s free kick from between 20-25 yards flying in over the keeper.

Ten minutes from time Midwinter hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box which went in off the crossbar.

Rhyl kept going till the end and missed a couple of late chances to gain a consolation, but it was a happy introduction to league football for Bethesda.