Hughes earns Wales call-up for Italy trip
BETHEL edged a tight 3-2 verdict over Prestatyn in the North Wales Women’s Football League.
A stubborn visiting side looked nothing like their lowly position in the table shows.
Bethel started the best as they took the lead early on.
Gwenno Gibbard’s delivery over the top found the run of Ffion Williams. She drilled the ball across the area and found Mari Gibbard, whose immaculate first touch was followed by a powerful finish.
Bethel then added a second as Katie Midwinter’s good work and cross from the left-hand side found Ffion Williams in the box.
Williams miscued her first effort but made no mistake with her second as she thumped home from close range.
Prestatyn then brought themselves back into the game as a cross from the left wing evaded the Bethel keeper’s hands, and Ellie Sandiford was in the right place at the right time to tap home.
Just before the half-time break, Bethel added to their lead. Once again Midwinter crossed into the area, and Ffion Williams, back from injury, attacked the ball at the far post and volleyed back across goal to find the bottom corner.
Williams’ deadly finishing showed Bethel what they had missed over the last few weeks.
After the half time break Prestatyn started strongest, and they reduced the deficit once again as Shannon Hobbs attempted an audacious effort from 30 yards that looped over the Bethel keeper and nestled in the back of the net.
The rest of the game was scrappy, but neither side managed to find another goal and Bethel managed to take the three points.
PWLLHELI prospect Harri Hughes is to gain international recognition. Hughes, a product of the Bangor City Academy, has been selected to represent the Welsh Colleges Under18 team for next month’s prestigious Roma Caput Mundi tournament in Italy.
The competition comprises eight teams with Wales joining hosts Lazio, Italy, Romania, Albania, England, Greece and Malta.
Last year’s winners Romania, along with some of the other nations, use this as part of their build-up to UEFA elite tournaments and include players from academies teams such as Manchester City, Leicester, Wolves, Torino, Inter Milan, Villarreal and Steaua Bucharest, to name a few.
Cai Powell Roberts, who appears for Llangefni Town in the Welsh Alliance League, is also in the squad for the Italy tournament.
Coleg Menai’s Marc Lloyd Williams, from Llanberis, who manages both the Welsh Colleges and the Welsh Schools set-up, says it is a great testament to the standard of youth football in the area and is delighted with the progression of the players.
He said: “These young players have put a tremendous amount of effort in throughout the season whilst representing Academi Menai in the English Colleges Premier League, and fully deserve their recognition.
“It is not an easy job trying to combine full-time education alongside their footballing aspirations”.
As both Hughes and Roberts are looking for player sponsorship to represent the colleges team in Italy, Bangor City FC Supporters Association have kindly sponsored Harri.
Lloyd Williams added: “It is great to see BCFCSA contributing towards Harri’s trip, and is a testament to the association that they realise the potential of their academy players which will hopefully one day make a breakthrough into the first team.”
Meanwhile, last week players from Academi Coleg Menai gained international recognition when they starred in victories against Australia Schools U19s.
On Wednesday, Harry Galeotti and Alex Boss, who are also members of the successful Bangor City FC development team, played their part in the Welsh Colleges U19 team’s 2-1 victory over their Down Under counterparts, with Boss scoring the winning goal five minutes before the interval.
The following day, Powell Roberts helped the Welsh Schools U18s to a superb 7-4 victory over the Aussies.
Academi Coleg Menai offers a range of academic and vocational courses and gives the learners an opportunity to participate in weekly sporting fixtures both in Wales and the North West of England.
For more information visit www. gllm. ac. uk/ learner- information/ sport/