Thrilling comeback from Bethel earns place in last eight
CAERNARFON Town and Bethel both progressed in the North Wales Women’s League Betty Pickering Cup last weekend.
The Canaries, already crowned league champions, thrashed Airbus 5-0 at The Oval, while Bethel won an exciting tie at home to Denbigh Town 6-3 after extra time.
In the quarter-finals on April 23, Bethel will face Kinmel Bay and Caernarfon take on Prestatyn.
Pwllheli and Llanfair United are already through to the semis.
Captain and player of the match Ffion Owen notched a hat-trick for Caernarfon against Airbus, Heledd Evans and Ceri Slaney also on target.
Meanwhile, Bethel entertained Denbigh at Cae Coed Bolyn last Sunday.
Denbigh took the lead early on after a perfect through-ball from Joanna McKinney allowed pacy winger Mared Ellis Roberts to slot home.
Bethel equalised minutes later as Katie Midwinter struck a fierce free kick from 20 yards, leaving the Denbigh keeper no chance.
Bethel seemed to switch off after that and allowed Denbigh to score two goals and take a 3-1 advantage into the break.
Chelsea Williams played a fine pass into Roberts who made it 2-1, then McKinney also found the net before the turnaround.
Bethel came out for the second half rejuvenated and really turned on the style.
Katie Midwinter reduced the deficit with a sumptuous lob early on, and then 10 minutes from time captain Gwenno Gibbard found the bottom corner with a thunderous strike to equalise and force extra time following a one-sided half.
Denbigh did not seem to have much left in the tank and Bethel took advantage of that in the added halfhour.
Mari Gibbard handed Bethel the lead for the first time as her left-footed strike evaded Denbigh’s keeper and found the corner. Picture: DAI SINCLAIR
Gibbard then turned provider as her long cross-field ball found Alaw Huws, who showed good composure as she confidently beat the keeper one on one.
Huws then rounded off the scoring as she ran from her own half, beating several opponents on the way and firing a shot in via the post.
Bethel have had Denbigh’s number in knockout competitions this season, as they also knocked the Vale of Clwyd side out of the Welsh Cup by a 3-2 scoreline last November.
However, it was a different story in the league, Denbigh beating the villagers 6-1 at home and 1-0 away.
Bethel are certain to finish fifth in the league – a fine effort.