Wrexham AFC Women return to league action when they take on title rivals and defending champions Llandudno Ladies in the Genero Adran North on Sunday (October 23).
Having maintained their 100% start to the season with a last-minute win against CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in the Adran Trophy last time out, this is just Wrexham’s second league game of the campaign.
But they come up against a strong Llandudno side, determined to bounce back from their first loss of the season last weekend too.
The match at Rhos Aelwyd FC kicks off at 2pm and is free to spectators. Please be mindful of our neighbours when choosing where to park. Refreshments will be available from the clubhouse.
Match preview
Lili Jones’ thunderous last-minute penalty made it four wins from four last time out for Wrexham AFC Women, as they escaped from a below-par performance against CPD Y Rhyl 1879 with a victory that guarantees their place in the knockout stage.
Now, back in league action, Wrexham are looking to follow their up their only league game of the season so far – which ended in a 6-0 win away to Llanfair United at the start of the campaign.
Llandudno have played twice so far in the league, also beating Llanfair 6-0 away and also putting eight past CPD Y Rhyl 1879.
The defending champions go into the game top of the table, level on points with Connah’s Quay Nomads, with those two and Wrexham all looking to maintain winning starts to the campaign.
Team news
New signing Phoebe Davies made her Wrexham debut from the bench in the win against CPD Y Rhyl 1879 last time out, and is in contention for her first league game too.
Prolific striker Rosie Hughes is available again, after missing out last time around, and defender Erin Lovett also comes back into contention having served the final game of her three-match Adran Trophy ban last time out.
With Hughes available, Ava Suckley, Libby Mackenzie, Sophie Hodson, Rebecca Pritchard and Amber Lightfoot are competing for a maximum of three places behind her.
The opposition
Llandudno won their first three games of the season, putting eight past Rhyl, and six each past Llanfair and CPDM Y Felinheli in their opening three games.
The defending champions’ winning start was ended last weekend, however, when they suffered a 1-0 reverse to Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Adran Trophy.
Wales Under-17s international Madison Williams missed that game, however, and summer signing Shona Roberts was on the bench so Llandudno do have options to bolster their squad this time around.
Last season’s Player of the Season contenders Jasmine Dutton and Mari Gibbard – the latter who was at Bethel at the time – are among Llandudno’s key players.
Previous meetings
Wrexham and Llandudno played out two thrilling encounters last season, befitting their status as title rivals.
The first match, before Christmas, saw Wrexham come from 3-1 down – having at one stage led early on – to claim a stunning late 5-3 win.
Rosie Hughes scored early on against her former team, but Sioned Phillips, India Hassall and Maddie Williams all found the net to give Llandudno a commanding half-time lead.
Libby Mackenzie pulled one back, however, before TJ Dickens levelled with just eight minutes remaining.
More drama followed too, as Hughes made it 4-3 in the final minute and Rebecca Pritchard added to the lead deep in stoppage time.
Both teams then proceeded to win every game between then and the final day, when they met once more in a winner-takes-all title decider.
Amber Lightfoot gave Wrexham the lead in that match, before Jasmine Dutton’s stunning long-range equaliser. TJ Dickens’ free-kick went straight in just before half-time, however, to give the Red Dragons the lead at the break.
A sloppy defensive pass allowed India Hassall to nick and equalise in the second-half, however, and she tapped in again late on to seal a 3-2 win and the inaugural Genero Adran North title for Llandudno.