Big win puts Bethel in frame for title tilt
NORTH Wales Women’s League Division One leaders Bethel expect a tougher test this Sunday at home to Pwllheli than they received last weekend when they romped to a 15-0 victory over visitors Kinmel Bay.
It was a third straight win for a team who are now looking very capable of a title challenge this season.
The first five minutes at Cae Seilo were very cagey, but Erin Maloney got Bethel settled as she beat the offside trap to latch on to Gwenno Bolton’s pass and confidently dinked the onrushing keeper.
Jody Cain made it two a minute after, as a good passing move between Bolton and Leonie Prytherch took Bethel up the pitch. Prytherch then found Cain in space 30 yards out and her long range effort left the keeper with no chance.
Ffion Williams headed home a Yasmin Williams corner before then turning provider as she carried the ball up the lefthand side before cutting inside and playing a cross into striker Katie Houghton, whose immaculate first touch with her right foot set her up nicely to volley home with her left for Bethel’s fourth.
Ffion Williams then put Bethel five ahead when she found herself one-on-one with the keeper and stayed calm to notch her second.
Maloney bagged her second as she, in similar fashion, beat her marker before finishing neatly one-on-one.
Kinmel Bay then went down to 10 as they lost a player to injury before Bethel’s captain made it 7-0 before the interval. Yasmin Williams’ fierce shot was fumbled by the goalkeeper and landed straight at Bolton’s feet.
She stayed calm under pressure to hammer home and cap off an impressive first half for the hosts.
Bethel went into the second half just as ruthless as they had been in the first. Yasmin Williams’ corner was headed home by Ffion Williams in the opening minute for her hattrick, before Yasmin herself almost broke the net with her long range pile driver that made it 9.
It was Maloney’s turn to make it a treble as she took Bethel into double figures. Ffion Williams then scored her fourth with a neat turn and finish with her weaker left foot, before providing the next two, both for 16-year-old Maloney, who scored her fourth and fifth of the match from close range.
Sixteen-year-old debutant Anest Roberts made it 14 as she was first to react to a rebounded effort off the post before Ffion Williams capped off a stunning Bethel performance with her fifth as she and her striker partner Maloney linked up well before Ffion was left in the clear to score her eighth of the season.
Next up is Pwllheli at Cae Seilo, Felinheli, this Sunday (1pm kick-off ).