Some special goals
THERE were some fantastic goals scored in North Wales women’s football this season. This 10 of the best list from Herald sports editor DAVE JONES includes two from Caernarfon Town players and another couple from Bethel.
1 Ashleigh Mills (Cardiff City v RHYL – Welsh Premier League, Apr 23, 2017)
AMAZING goals have been a feature of this Welsh international’s career but the one she scored at Cardiff City this season was something truly special.
Rhyl trailed 1-0 when Ashleigh won the ball in the centre circle and lobbed the keeper with a magnificent precision effort.
Anyone who saw her two wonder goals in the 2015 FAW Under-16 Girls Cup Final for Prestatyn against Coed Duon Dragons would not have been surprised by her stunner at Cardiff.
2 Sofie Owen (Cardiff City v LLANDUDNO – Welsh Premier League, Nov 6, 2016)
SOFIE found the Cardiff net 17 seconds after the kick-off and without an opposition player touching the ball.
A slick five-pass move ended with Kelsey Davies squaring to Sofie who finished in style. A tremendous team goal.
3 Catrin Thomas (Rhyl v CAERNARFON TOWN – Welsh Cup, Oct
THIS was a fantastic individual goal from Caernarfon’s top-scorer this season.
Ffion Owen won possession with a fierce midfield tackle and passed to Catrin Thomas.
Thomas then combined with Heledd Evans on the right before the former Llandudno player led the home defence a merry dance, working her way into the box and netting right-footed with a lethal finish.
4 Katie Midwinterwinter (BETHEL v Cardiff City – Welsh Cup, Feb 5, 2017)
ONE of North Wales’ most gifted players chose Bethel’s biggest game in their history to stun holders Cardiff in a Welsh Cup quarterfinal.
Midwinter beat two wo defenders before sendending a brilliant, dippingipping long-range effort in under the crossbar.
5 Katie Bowe (LLANDUDNO v Rhyl – Welsh Premier League, Oct 30, 2016)
IN the 2015/16 season Bowe could have merited her own personal top 10 goals competition, but an injury cut short her latest campaign.
She still came up with some amaz- ing lo long-rangers, though, although this particular goal arrived directdirec from a curling corner, something she had been trying to do all afternoon.
During a match this season, Llandudno won a free kick 30 yards from goal, Katie prepared to take it and one elderly male member of the crowd said to another: “we know where this one’s going”.
It gave me a buzz to hear this type of respect towards a player who has built such an awesome reputation.
6 Rachel Lloyd (RHYL v Cardiff City – Welsh Premier League, Dec 11, 2016)
WHAT a strike this was. Paige Williams produced some silky skills down the left and passed to Rachel, who pushed the ball forward and sent a beauty into the top corner from about 25 yards.
7 Ffion Owen (Rhyl v CAERNARFON TOWN – Welsh Cup, Oct 23, 2016)
EARLY in the second half at the Corbett Sports Stadium, Caernarfon captain Ffion made it 2-1 to the visitors with the fiercest of right-foot strikes from all of 25 yards.
8 Joy Jamieson (Cardiff Met v RHYL – Welsh Premier League, Mar 5, 2017)
EVERGREEN Rhyl midfielder Joy lashed home a screamer from 35 yards in a cracking – albeit losing – performance from Rhyl at Cyncoed. She’s still got plenty of magic in her boots.
9 Sioned Phillips (Kinmel Bay v BETHEL – Betty Pickering Cup, Apr
19, 2017)
BETHEL were 3-1 down when the move of the match saw them cut the deficit. Good passing down the right led to Alaw Huws feeding the ball inside to Sioned Phillips, whose curling effort was a goal from the moment it left her boot from 20 yards out.
10 Paige Williams (RHYL v Llanfair United – Welsh Cup, Nov 20, 2016)
A smart build-up was matched by a superb finish from Rhyl’s young talent. Ashleigh Mills crossed deep from the left and Rebecca Bannister laid the ball into the path of Paige Williams, who netted in style.