REPORT | Pwllheli Women 7-2 Denbigh Town Ladies

Denbigh Town Ladies’ five game winning streak came to a screeching halt on Sunday, as Pwllheli put Town to the sword in the opening Group C match of the Betty Pickering Cup.

Goals from Catrin Thomas, Lois Thomas (brace), Stacey Sansome, Jini Owen-Hughes (brace) and Emily Morris own-goal put a sudden halt on the superb Denbigh form with the visitors scoring through Elen James-Owen and Lucy Morris.

Manager Ellen Lawson made three changes to the starting XI that beat Kinmel Bay two weeks ago with Jess Duff, Lucy Morris and Emily Morris coming into the side in the place of Mali Thomas, Alaw Jones and Elen Jones.

Before the match both sides paused to remember the fallen marking remembrance Sunday as each team reflected on a poignant day.

The game began evenly with chances for both sides and it was the visitors who had the first sight of goal after just three minutes, Emily Morris drew a fantastic save from Sara Williams who denied the terrific volley from distance bulging the net.

Pwllheli grew into this one, with a number of shots on goal dealt with well by Netty Young but on 27 minutes the deadlock was broken. Catrin Thomas fed the ball to Lois Thomas who drilled the ball into the top left corner.

As the rain fell the hosts’ doubled their advantage as Stacey Samsome’s effort trickled over the line despite the best efforts of Duff and Young on 34 minutes.

Just before the break they made it a trio of first half goals as Owen-Hughes struck to make it a difficult challenge for Denbigh.

Half-Time: Pwllheli Women 3-0 Denbigh Town Ladies

As the rain lashed down it appeared the floodgates could open and it seemed that way with two goals in as many minutes for Pwllheli. First, Emily Morris turned the ball into her own net on 61 minutes before Owen-Hughes added her second moments later.

Denbigh didn’t give in however, and on 66 minutes the captain led by example as James-Owen grabbed one back for Town.

However, any thoughts of a Denbigh comeback were quickly quashed when Catrin Thomas netted one five minutes later. Less than a minute later and it was seven, as Lois Thomas grabbed her second of the game to pile on the misery.

With four minutes to play Denbigh managed to grab a second goal via Lucy Morris but the game was up and Pwllheli took the points.

Denbigh Town Ladies are next in action on Sunday when hosting Bellevue in the next group match of the competition.

Denbigh Town Ladies: Young, Duff, James-Owen, E.Morris, S.Jones, Kell, Claybrook, L.Morris, Edwards, Purvis, Cooper

Subs: Bancroft, C.Morris

Referee: John Richards