Clinical NFA put four past CPDM Bangor to move off bottom of Adran North
RHYL, DENBIGHSHIRE, WALES - 10th AUGUST 2023 - NFA walk out before NFA FC Women vs Connah's Quay Nomads Women in the Genero Adran Trophy Group 1 Round 1 at Fford Derwen Playing Fields, Rhyl (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)
A brilliant second-half display by NFA ensured that the away side took all three points away from Nantporth Stadium in a 0-4 win over CPDM Bangor.
Jessica Mills opened the scoring in the ninth minute after being assisted by Jade Scott. Ashleigh Mills netted a four-minute salvo from the 70th minute onwards and then Scott went from provider to scorer.
NFA move above Llanfair United and Bangor with Airbus UK now bottom of the table.
It was Bangor who had the first clear-cut opportunity of the game. A ball in from the right evaded everyone in the six-yard box and found Ella Jones at the back post, but her effort smashed the crossbar.
Despite Bangor’s positive start, it was the side that started the day bottom of the Adran North who took the lead early on in North Wales. It was just their second league win since being promoted and their first clean sheet of their league campaign.
NFA took the lead after a Jade Scott corner from the right found Jessica Mills at the front post, who headed home past Bangor goalkeeper Rebecca Elliot to put NFA in front.
It remained 0-1 at the break, despite several chances for Bangor in the first half, with rising star Menna Evans coming close on two occasions.
Having been without the ball for most of the first half, NFA started to take control of the game, but it took some brilliant defending from Megan Pursell before that to ensure the away side kept their clean sheet.
The Rhyl-based side doubled their lead with 20 minutes to go, in the first of two goals for Ashleigh Mills, who added her name to the scoresheet.
Before she could score her second, NFA added a third goal after a piece of brilliance from Jade Scott.
Having already assisted Mills’ goal earlier on, the centre-half fired in another corner, this time from the left, which went all the way into the back of the net, to put NFA in dreamland.
To top off a brilliant ten-minute spell for Niall McGuinness’ side, Ashleigh Mills, who already scored just moments before, scored from outside the area after an error at the back for Bangor, to ensure they left Nantporth with all three points.
NFA manager Niall McGuinness said…
Speaking to Y Clwb Pel-Droed after the game, NFA boss McGuinness said: “Credit to the ladies. They’ve been knocking on the door for a few weeks.
“Start of the season we knew we had to build and work towards an end goal. It’s good to see it come off there.
“They’ve put a lot of hard work in and not got many results this season. To come here and get three points is brilliant for them. I’m made up for them.
“They knew coming here that they were capable of getting something from the game. It’s great to score four goals as well because it’s something we’ve not done a lot of.
“I’ve got to give credit to Bangor. I’ve watched most teams this season and they were probably one of the most footballing organised teams.
“They have got quite a lot of young girls and in a couple of years, they are going to be very good team. They play football properly.“
Bangor XI: Elliott; Hughes (C. Macdonald 64), Bee, Burns, Pickstock; S. Macdonald, Basinger, Davis; E. Jones (Parry 77), Evans (C. Jones 84), M. Roberts.
Unused Subs: N. Roberts, E. Jones
Yellows: S. Macdonald 84
NFA XI: Spruce; Morris, Pursell, Scott, Bamber; McClelland (Ingram 85), Williams, A. Mills; J. Mills, Webster, Hansen (L. Roberts 77).
Unused Sub: Hargreaves
Goals: J. Mills 9, A. Mills 70, 75, Scott 74.
Attendance: 35
