MATCH OF THE DAY – Women’s Welsh Cup: NFA edge victory on penalties over impressive Denbigh

BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP FIRST ROUND – SEPTEMBER 20

Denbigh Town 3 (L Williams 20, L Jones 40, Kell 78)
NFA 3 (Brown 4, Webster 50, S Jones 81)
(NFA won 4-3 on penalties)

Although Denbigh produced arguably their best performance of the season so far, it was visitors NFA who edged through on penalties in a Welsh Cup classic.

Town had lost all previous six meetings with Rhyl-based NFA, but the home side went close to breaking the jinx on Sunday, leading twice over the 90 minutes.

NFA started strongly in this all-North Wales Coast League clash, taking a fourth-minute lead when Rachael Thomas switched the ball to Molly Brown, who remained calm in the box and applied a neat finish.

Denbigh equalised on 20 minutes when their exciting new signing, Lleucu Williams, scored via a shot from outside the box.

Town went 2-1 up in the 40th minute when former NFA striker Loz Jones scored with a left-foot chip over keeper Cerys Foston.

Five minutes into the second half, it was all-square.

Some good football from NFA saw them play their way up the pitch before Sophie Haywood found the feet of the returning Amy Webster, who finished well.

This was now turning into a great tie and it was advantage Denbigh again in the 78th minute when Beth Kell scored a beauty from long range.

Still NFA refused to buckle. In the 81st minute Rachael Thomas broke up the field and threaded a fine ball to Summer Jones, a 16-year-old prospect who latched onto the pass and lashed into the top corner.

No further goals so penalties it was. Denbigh were two-up after a pair of NFA misses, but the balance changed and after Thomas, Haywood and Brown converted their kicks, Summer Jones put away what turned out to be the winner.

Both teams could feel proud of their performance in a tie that was a great advert for the Bute Energy Women’s Welsh Cup.

DENBIGH TOWN
Chiara Donnelly, Rosie O’Brien, Lleucu Williams, Carla Rizzi, Catrin Bell (c), Lucy Morris, Sophie Evans, Loz Jones, Cara Jones, Bethany Kell, Alicia Duke. Sub used: Mabli Fitzgerald.

NFA
Cerys Foston, N/A, Kayla Hargreaves, Sophie Haywood, Cadie Griffiths, Georgia Williams (c), Molly Brown, Rachael Thomas, Amy Webster, Rebekah McGuinness, Summer Jones.