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Match Reports

CHAMPIONS | Wrexham AFC Women seal Genero Adran North title

REPORT | CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1-11 Wrexham AFC Women

5 March 2023

Match Reports

CHAMPIONS | Wrexham AFC Women seal Genero Adran North title

REPORT | CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1-11 Wrexham AFC Women

5 March 2023

Wrexham AFC Women are the Genero Adran North champions, storming to a stunning 11-1 win away to CPD Y Rhyl 1879 to wrap up the title with a game to spare.

Rosie Hughes scored five goals and Amber Lightfoot also hit a hat-trick in a dominant display, with Lili Jones, Rebecca Pritchard and Libby Mackenzie also on target.

The win – Wrexham’s 11th out of 11 in the league this season – gives them an unassailable lead at the top of the Genero Adran North table.

It means the Red Dragons will lift the trophy in front of the Wrexham fans on Sunday March 26, when they conclude the league season at the Racecourse Ground.

And Steve Dale’s side will then compete in the play-off final with the Genero Adran South champions – licenses permitting – for a place in the top flight next season.

Manager Dale named an unchanged team for Wrexham to the one that had started the win against Connah’s Quay Nomads last weekend.

And Wrexham were straight onto the front foot, as Rebecca Pritchard’s cross was claimed by the goalkeeper within the first minute, after a patient team move.

Lili Jones released Amber Lightfoot over the top on three minutes, but the ball took an age to drop for the winger and her shot was deflected wide.

Just a minute later, though, Wrexham were in front – Lili Jones’ corner was headed goalwards, and while the initial shot was saved, Hughes was on hand to thump home the rebound.

Another corner caused Rhyl more problems in the sixth minute, as TJ Dickens played the ball short and Jones crossed, but Libby Mackenzie shot over.

Wrexham doubled the lead on 11 minutes though, as Hughes threaded an inch-perfect through ball through to Lightfoot, who finished low on her left foot.

Hughes was the provider again on 13 minutes, dancing inside and teeing up Mackenzie, but the midfielder dragged her shot wide across goal.

Wrexham’s third did arrive on 20 minutes, however, and it was almost a carbon copy of the second. Hughes threaded the ball through to Lightfoot and, with the keeper slow off her line, she finished low again.

With Wrexham rampant, Hughes raced down the left-wing on 22 minutes and cut inside, but from a tight angle she shot into the side-netting.

Hughes could have added to the score in the 28th minute, after Mari Gibbard was tripped in the area, but in a rare mis-step from the striker, she dragged her penalty wide.

Still, Wrexham remained well on top and Jones made it four in the 32nd minute – lofting a long-range shot goalwards, which drifted over the goalkeeper, under the bar and in.

And Hughes did get her second on 41 minutes, and in some style, smashing the ball in on her left-foot from just inside the area.

It sparked a flurry of goals late in the half, as Laura Williams pulled one back for Rhyl on 43 minutes with a lofted finish.

Hughes then hit back at the other end, with a lofted finish of her own to complete yet another Wrexham AFC hat-trick.

And there was still time for Rebecca Pritchard to convert from close-range when Hughes cross was parried clear by the goalkeeper.

Mackenzie got her goal three minutes after the interval, pouncing on a mix-up between the keeper and a defender to score Wrexham’s eighth.

Hughes then stole possession on the halfway line on 51 minutes and raced forward, only for her right-footed shot to cannon back off the post.

Three minutes later, Hughes was in again – this time the keeper saved with her legs, before Rebecca Pritchard had two shots blocked and Hughes shot wide.

Lightfoot nearly completed her hat-trick on the hour, getting the ball onto her right-foot and beating a defender, but she shot wide.

Two minutes later, she shot left-footed from the edge of the box, and this time her shot was parried wide.

Hughes got Wrexham’s ninth on 64 minutes, however, getting in on goal once again and this time finishing coolly through the keeper’s legs.

And Lightfoot completed her hat-trick in the 66th minute, with a low right-footed finish from the left of the area.

Hughes got Wrexham’s 11th on 80 minutes, skipping around the goalkeeper and firing in her fifth of the afternoon.

Wrexham: Morgan, Lovett, L.Jones (R.Jones 61), Sharp, Roberts (Davies 71), Dickens, Gibbard, Pritchard (Hodson 56), Mackenzie (Dutton 56), Lightfoot (McCaffrey 71), Hughes


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