‘Worried’: Wrexham five-goal hero sends fear warning to Cardiff City
RHOSLLANNERCHRUGOG, WALES - 25th SEPTEMBER 2022 - Rosie Hughes celebrates during Wrexham AFC Women vs Llanfair United Ladies FC in the Genero Adran North Group 1 at Ponciau Park, Rhosllannerchrugog
A big smile, laughing away, joking with her teammates as she strolled off the pitch, you could tell it was yet another standard Sunday afternoon for Rosie Hughes.
The striker managed to bag five goals on Sunday against Barry Town, as Wrexham romped home to a 5-1 win.
Hughes scored with her head, left foot, and right foot, and the achievement is even more impressive considering she had a few doubts before kick-off.
“On the pitch, the scoreline itself shows just how good we were today. I came here with some aches in my legs, and I said to one of my teammates, I don’t think I’m going to do very well today.
“Then inside the first 20 minutes, I’ve scored a hat-trick! Two of them coming off my head as well, I don’t do headers very often, so to score two of them was great.“
Her five goals now takes her tally to seven for the season, four clear of anyone else in the Adran Premier.
Having scored 42 goals in all competitions last year, many were wondering if Hughes could keep up her remarkable record in the topflight.
But the message from the number nine is simple, I’ll score every opportunity you give to me.
“I just love to score goals. I’ve said it to people before and I said it when I joined Wrexham, I score goals and that’s all I do.
“I tell myself I’m not even good at tackling, I’m not even that good at defending. All I can do is score goals. Just get me the ball, and I’ll put it in the back of the net for you.
“I’ve not seen any of the other scores yet, but I’m hoping I’m sitting as top goal scorer for the Adran Prem. I got it last season and the season before that, so it’s a good way to get my tally up today.”
The result today keeps up Wrexham’s unbeaten start to the season and has seen them rise to the top of the Adran Premier.
One of the things the side will have to deal with this year is making trips down south. However, the team show no sign of letting up, after two good away performances against two of the league’s most experienced sides.
“It’s a massive confidence boost. The home game against Swansea really set us off nicely for to start the season, and to then have two away games down south, we’ve done really well.
“We’re travelling down early, staying overnight, things we’re not used to doing, but to be able to win those games and come away with good scores as well, against two teams who have been in this league for a while says a lot about us.
“We haven’t played these top teams for a while, so to be able to win the last two is amazing and I’m happy for everyone.”
Next up for Wrexham is a mouth-watering clash against Cardiff City.
The Bluebirds are unbeaten in the league since March 2022, but that doesn’t fear Hughes and her squad, instead saying it’s City who should be very worried about heading up to The Rock.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming them, and especially with the confidence we had from playing Swansea and the fact we’re high in the standings.
“To be honest, Cardiff might be a bit worried coming up to play us. We’ve won two away games, but they’re coming to our patch, and they should be worried, but we’ll be excited.
“If we continue playing the way we are, we will do very well. Our defence is amazing, the new signings have been really solid. The middle is gelling together, and then you’ve got me up front, so it should be good!”
