Football nostalgia: The magic of Penno. Recalling two special performances from Flint’s new signing
The return of Laura Williams (Pennington) to North Wales football has met with plenty of excitement.
This week it was announced the 31-year-old has signed for Genero Adran North club Flint Town United. She has not played in North Wales since representing Northop Hall in the 2018-19 season, going on to play for The New Saints, Wem Town and Tranmere Rovers.
Here’s a look back at two of Penno’s finest performances. The first recalls Northop Hall’s great start to life in the fully-national Welsh Premier Women’s League in 2012-13 and the second celebrates the evening the Flintshire side sealed the North Wales Leagie title in 2017-18.
WELSH PREMIER WOMEN’S LEAGUE – SEPTEMBER 2012
Caerphilly Castle 0
Northop Hall Girls and Ladies 5 (Pennington 3, Pugh, Bennett)
Northop Hall made a flying start to the revamped Welsh Premier Women’s League.
Laura Pennington hit a brilliant hat-trick as Hall returned from their long trip to Caerphilly Castle Ladies on Sunday as emphatic 5-0 winners.
Alex Pugh and Natalie Bennett – with a superb 25-yard strike – were also on target for the visitors, who were the only North Wales side to triumph on the opening weekend.
It is the first time in the national league’s four-year history that teams from the north and south have formed part of a single 12-team division.
Hall’s win was all the more impressive as they lost all eight of their matches last season.
NORTH WALES WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE – MAY 2018
Northop Hall 4 (Foster 2, Pennington 2)
Llanfair United 4 (Jones 3, 1 own goal)
Northop Hall clinched the North Wales Women’s Football League title after a thrilling 4-4 home draw with Llanfair United.
Beaten just once all season – last Tuesday in a 2-1 loss at Llanfair, the only team which could have prevented them finishing champions – Laura Pennington’s 49th goal of the season in the 81st minute secured the draw Hall required to seal top position.
And in this most shambolic of seasons for the league, the goalscoring exploits and quality football of the Flintshire side has been one of the major highlights. They are worthy champions.
Lifting the NEWFA Cup recently makes them double winners.
Llanfair came to spoil the party and took a first-minute lead through Gemma Jones. After nine minutes Jones struck again to put the Powys visitors two-up, both goals resulting from mistakes in the Hall defence.
After 11 minutes Ashleigh Foster picked the ball up outside the box and lashed into the far top corner to make it 2-1.
Then after 15 minutes a ball into the box and Gemma Williams’ sliced clearance looped over the Hall keeper to edge Llanfair 3-1 in front.
After 20 minutes Pennington made it 3-2 with an exquisite finish, then on 25 it was Foster who popped up again to equalise.
With 40 minutes gone Llanfair took the lead again when Jones completed a hat-trick with her 28th goal of the campaign.
Half-time 4-3 to United and what a thrilling session it had been.
In the second half both teams pushed for more goals but it was not until nine minutes from time that Pennington delivered the equaliser. A great game played by two quality teams.