Rosie Hughes and Amber Lightfoot both scored hat-tricks as Wrexham AFC Women sent out a big statement of intent with victory against previously unbeaten title rivals Bethel Ladies.

Wrexham trailed to an early goal but Hughes and Lightfoot each scored three times – including a penalty apiece – to storm to a dominant victory, despite Bethel scoring a consolation late on.

Steve Dale’s Red Dragons now move level on points with Connah’s Quay Nomads at the top of the table, with the two teams set to meet next week.

Dale welcomed Erin Lovett and Libby Mackenzie back to the starting line-up for the match at Brymbo, with Rebecca Pritchard only fit enough for a place on the bench after her ankle injury.

Bethel started brightest, however, and it took a smart stop from Del Morgan to keep Wrexham level on six minutes after some slack defending.

At the other end, Lightfoot found Lili Jones on the left wing, who cut inside and curled an effort in the ninth minute.

The visitors were in front on ten minutes, however – Fflur Williams beating Morgan to a loose ball to slot in from close range.

Wrexham looked to hit back immediately – Hughes hitting one on the turn from 20 yards out – but the Sioned Williams held well.

Still Bethel were on top, however, and almost doubled the lead on 19 minutes but Morgan saved brilliantly one-on-one to keep the Red Dragons in the game.

That proved a turning point of sorts too, as Wrexham started to grow into the game and Hughes shot over on 22 minutes.

Four minutes later, however, Lightfoot was caught high in the area as a loose ball dropped at the back post, and Hughes stepped up to coolly convert the penalty.

Lightfoot should have got her first on 38 minutes – Hughes feeding the winger, who raced in one-on-one, but shot too close to the onrushing Williams.

But she made amends a minute later, and in some style – cutting inside a defender from 25 yards and unleashing a dipping shot which beat Williams and dropped in to put Wrexham in front.

Six minutes into the second-half, Wrexham had another penalty – this time when Lightfoot was bundled over following in, after Mackenzie miscued what should have been a tap-in at the back post.

Hughes handed the ball to Lightfoot this time and, while Williams guessed correctly, the teenager’s penalty was into the corner to make it 3-1.

Confidence began to flow, and on 66 minutes – just moments after a tight offside call went against her – Hughes dashed onto Jones’ through ball, rounded the goalkeeper and sidefooted in for a trademark goal.

Lightfoot was the first of the two to seal her hat-trick – coolly finishing from inside the area after yet another Jones’ pass for her third treble of the campaign.

And Hughes then followed suit on 73 minutes – running through one-on-one and this time finishing low and early for yet another hat-trick of her own.

Katie Midwinter earned a consolation for Brymbo, with a powerful long-range strike that Morgan could only get a hand to.

But at full-time, Wrexham were left to celebrate a dominant win in front of a good crowd at Brymbo – with fans back for the first time in 2022.

The Red Dragons have played more than Connah’s Quay, Llandudno and Bethel but – ahead of next week’s big clash against the Nomads – now sit level on points with Nomads, second only on goal difference.

Llandudno lie third, two points behind, with Bethel – having lost for the first time in the league this season – now fourth.

Line-up: Morgan, Rintoul (Clifton-Stringer 60), Lovett, Sharp, Roberts, Dickens, Dutton (Reese 76), Mackenzie (Pritchard 71), Jones, Lightfoot, Hughes

Wrexham trailed to an early goal but Hughes and Lightfoot each scored three times – including a penalty apiece – to storm to a dominant victory, despite Bethel scoring a consolation late on.

Steve Dale’s Red Dragons now move level on points with Connah’s Quay Nomads at the top of the table, with the two teams set to meet next week.

Dale welcomed Erin Lovett and Libby Mackenzie back to the starting line-up for the match at Brymbo, with Rebecca Pritchard only fit enough for a place on the bench after her ankle injury.

Bethel started brightest, however, and it took a smart stop from Del Morgan to keep Wrexham level on six minutes after some slack defending.

At the other end, Lightfoot found Lili Jones on the left wing, who cut inside and curled an effort in the ninth minute.

The visitors were in front on ten minutes, however – Fflur Williams beating Morgan to a loose ball to slot in from close range.

Wrexham looked to hit back immediately – Hughes hitting one on the turn from 20 yards out – but the Sioned Williams held well.

Still Bethel were on top, however, and almost doubled the lead on 19 minutes but Morgan saved brilliantly one-on-one to keep the Red Dragons in the game.

That proved a turning point of sorts too, as Wrexham started to grow into the game and Hughes shot over on 22 minutes.

Four minutes later, however, Lightfoot was caught high in the area as a loose ball dropped at the back post, and Hughes stepped up to coolly convert the penalty.

Lightfoot should have got her first on 38 minutes – Hughes feeding the winger, who raced in one-on-one, but shot too close to the onrushing Williams.

But she made amends a minute later, and in some style – cutting inside a defender from 25 yards and unleashing a dipping shot which beat Williams and dropped in to put Wrexham in front.

Six minutes into the second-half, Wrexham had another penalty – this time when Lightfoot was bundled over following in, after Mackenzie miscued what should have been a tap-in at the back post.

Hughes handed the ball to Lightfoot this time and, while Williams guessed correctly, the teenager’s penalty was into the corner to make it 3-1.

Confidence began to flow, and on 66 minutes – just moments after a tight offside call went against her – Hughes dashed onto Jones’ through ball, rounded the goalkeeper and sidefooted in for a trademark goal.

Lightfoot was the first of the two to seal her hat-trick – coolly finishing from inside the area after yet another Jones’ pass for her third treble of the campaign.

And Hughes then followed suit on 73 minutes – running through one-on-one and this time finishing low and early for yet another hat-trick of her own.

Katie Midwinter earned a consolation for Brymbo, with a powerful long-range strike that Morgan could only get a hand to.

But at full-time, Wrexham were left to celebrate a dominant win in front of a good crowd at Brymbo – with fans back for the first time in 2022.

The Red Dragons have played more than Connah’s Quay, Llandudno and Bethel but – ahead of next week’s big clash against the Nomads – now sit level on points with Nomads, second only on goal difference.

Llandudno lie third, two points behind, with Bethel – having lost for the first time in the league this season – now fourth.

Line-up: Morgan, Rintoul (Clifton-Stringer 60), Lovett, Sharp, Roberts, Dickens, Dutton (Reese 76), Mackenzie (Pritchard 71), Jones, Lightfoot, Hughes