Felinheli hit double figures but Sports can take plenty of positives from their first competitive game

NWCFA WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP ROUND ONE

Prestatyn Sports 1 (Cunliffe 58)
CPDM Y Felinheli 11 (Angharad Jones 7, 30, 65, 70 & 81, Edwards 8 & 35, Davies 45 + 1, Evans 43, 60 & 84)

Angharad Jones will never forget her competitive debut for Felinheli – she scored FIVE goals!

However, today was not all about winners. It was also the day that Prestatyn Sports took their first brave steps into senior football. The scoreline was not important in their case.

While it was pleasing for Y Felinheli to achieve a big win to prepare them for much tougher tests in the season ahead, there were also positives for newcomers Sports.

Home goalkeeper Elle Evans, formerly of CPD Y Rhyl 1879, had a magnificent game between the posts, goalscorer Summer Cunliffe showed true promise and young defender Isla Fox-Byrne displayed great maturity..

Four of the Sports squad were 16-year-olds entering senior football with limited experience, yet all of them – Jess Houghton, Ruby McCavish, Cunliffe and Fox-Byrne made their team-mates proud.

And as for new faces, Felinheli’s new signings also displayed real quality on their debuts – Seren Ellis, Megan Povey, Cara Aston, Hana Williams and, five-goal star Jones – all shone brightly.

It was not about the result today, it was about levels.

Sports are just starting out, while Felinheli are experienced but will have benefited from the runout to prepare them for another campaign in Tier 2 Adran North.

The scoring began in the third minute when Anna Jones threaded a neat pass to Angharad Jones, who applied the finish.

Five minutes later Catrin Evans supplied the assist and Llywela Edwards made it two.

Elle Evans made a cracking stop to deny Edwards before Sports began to create some attacks of their own.

Cunliffe burst into the box from the left, but keeper Sions Williams narrowed the angle well.

Felin’s Edwards then hit the bar via a 20-yard curler but come the half-hour it remained 2-0 to the visitors and Sports could feel satisfied with their work to that point.

However, four goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half put Felinheli in total command.

Rubie Davies entered the box from the right and her low cross was finished off by Angharad Jones.

In the 35th minute a lovely four-player move ended with Fflur Williams enabling Edwards to lash in her second goal.

On 43 minutes, Catrin Evans drilled a low drive into the right-hand corner to make it five and in added time Davies made the scoresheet, ensuring it stood 6-0 at the interval.

Amy Woodbridge had a chance at the other end when finding space in the box, but her strike was straight at Williams.

Just before the whistle, Elle Evans had done well to keep out a Shannon Jade Jones effort.

HALF-TIME: 0-6

Prestatyn Sports began the second half really well, Cunliffe testing out keeper Williams with an early attempt.

In the 58th minute, Sports were rewarded for their determination when Cunliffe raced into the box from the left and from an angle skilfully put the ball beyond Williams and into the net for the team’s first competitive goal.

Felin responded positively when a sublime lob from Catrin Evans made it 7-1.

Soon after Angharad Jones made a dazzling run into the box before finishing clinically for her hat-trick.

Angharad Jones bagged her fourth in the 68th minute from close range via a Shannon Jade Jones assist.

Evans made a fine save from Shannon Jade Jones before Cunliffe sprinted into the box again but this time found the side-netting.

In the 81st minute Angharad Jones chalked up her fifth goal with another mazy run into the area before applying a powerful finish.

And a similar jinking run from Evans ended with her making it a hat-trick.