Wrexham AFC Women’s Under-19s have their title destiny in their own hands after a dominant win at home to a depleted NFA side at Colliers Park.
After two months without a league fixture, Gareth Owen’s side dusted off the cobwebs in style as they hit five goals before the break.
Siwan Williams, Natasha Spearing, Amber Lightfoot (penalty), Gracie-Mae Cotgrave (penalty) and Elana Harley were all on target before half-time.
Spearing and Williams then each doubled their tallies after the break, either side of NFA pulling a goal back, to secure another big win.
Although the table-topping Red Dragons went into the game eight points clear of the visitors, a number of cancellations before Christmas meant NFA had three games in hand.
The two teams drew when they last met too, but NFA made the trip across from Rhyl with a depleted side for this fixture.
Wrexham were nearer full-strength, with one obvious exception. Abbie Bellis-Hollway failed a late fitness test, meaning with no other goalkeeper available, Lili Jones – just hours after playing in Wales Under-17s win against Scotland – was drafted in as a makeshift goalkeeper.
Even without Jones’ creativity, however, Wrexham stormed into an early lead.
Spearing teed up Siwan Williams to open the scoring after just eight minutes, and the midfielder got in on the act herself just four minutes later as she doubled the advantage.
Lightfoot scored her eighth goal of the season for the Under-19s – and 22nd in total when you include her senior goals in her breakthrough year – when she converted a penalty on 27 minutes.
Wrexham won another penalty on 39 minutes, and this time Cotgrave stepped up to convert before Harley continued her fine goalscoring form when she netted three minutes before half-time.
After the break, Harley turned provider – first teeing up Spearing to make it 6-0 after 49 minutes.
NFA pulled a goal back on 57 minutes, but just moments later Wrexham’s six-goal advantage was restored – Harley again providing the assist, as Siwan Williams scored her second.
With a commanding lead, Wrexham were able to look ahead to Saturday’s senior fixture and Spearing and Lightfoot were replaced on the hour, before Mia Roberts joined Harley in being substituted in another double change midway through the half.
There were to be no further goals, however, as Wrexham moved nine points clear of second-place CPDM Bangor 1876.
With two games left, Wrexham’s destiny is now in their own hands – with four points from fixtures against Penrhyn Bay and Northop Hall Ladies enough to guarantee the Genero Adran Under-19s North title regardless of results elsewhere.
Line-up: L.Jones, Dunkerley, Clifton-Stringer, Megan Jones, M.Roberts (Cudlip 68), Orme (M.Williams 85), Spearing (Dutton 61), Cotgrave, Harley (T.Roberts 68), Lightfoot (Maddie Jones 61), S.Williams