Six players to watch out for in the Adran North and Adran South
LLANDUDNO, CONWY, WALES - 24th MARCH 2024 - Llandudno's Stevie Donohugher, Maddie Williams and Kelsey Davies after Llandudno FC Ladies vs NFA FC Women in Round 14 of the Genero Adran North at the OPS Wind Arena, Llandudno (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)
While the Adran Premier claims plenty of headlines, the Adran North and Adran South are leagues that are improving year on year.
With rapid growth comes plenty of talented players, and ahead of Sunday’s kick-off, here are six players that could be in for some sensational seasons.
Adran North ones to watch
Catrin Evans (Felinheli)
Felinheli shocked many in the Adran North by pushing for the title until the very end of the season, and a big part of that push was Catrin Evans.
The creative midfielder recorded some impressive stats last campaign. In 19 games in all competitions, Evans scored twelve and assisted twelve, and she in fact recorded the most assists in the Adran North last year, beating out the likes of Erin Doran and Maddie Williams.
The core of the Felinheli squad have kept together ahead of this season, and that familiarity will help the likes of Evans no end. Knowing the movement of her teammates coupled with the ability to pick out their runs makes Evans one of the most dangerous players in the Adran North.
If Y Felin are to compete again in the upper echelons of the table, Evans will be key.
Sophie Rawling (Connah’s Quay)
The Nomads are going to put their faith in the youth this season, and a big part of their plan will be Sophie Rawling.
Rawling only played her first Adran North game in late February, but her impact was beyond belief. Six appearances, eight goals, six assists. Her introduction to the league should have served as a warning of things to come. In a big win against Llanfair United, Rawling scored four and assisted two.
Rawling isn’t the only youngster who shined for Connah’s Quay last season. Captain Polly Wild-McGregor, Emily Hughes-Jones, Alisha Whitehead-Hughes, Alisha Wright are all players 20 or younger who already have Adran North experience under their belts.
The forward has played for Wales’ U17 side in her, so far, brief career, and if she is able to pick up where she left off this season, then she could well be back in the national setup sooner rather than later.
Connah’s Quay put faith in youth as they try to win Adran North
Saskia Wynne Thomas (Rhyl)
Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen Thomas become an incredibly important player in this Rhyl side.
While Rhyl struggled to score goals last year, at the back, the defence was solid, and Thomas played a big part in that. In their final three games of the season, Rhyl only conceded two goals, and one of those games came against Connah’s Quay.
Rhyl aren’t expected to be one of the favourites to be battling for promotion this season, but if they are to mix it up with the likes of the Nomads and Llandudno, a strong defence will be incredibly key, and if Thomas is there at the heart of it, Rhyl will always have a chance.
If she is to have yet another solid season, who knows where Thomas could be next season.
Adran South ones to watch
Summer Bowen-Quirk (Cwmbran Celtic)
Cwmbran Celtic look to have positioned themselves for a strong run at the title this season, and Summer Bowen-Quirk will be a key player for them if they are to win it.
After arriving from Cardiff City in January, Bowen-Quirk slotted straight away into the Celtic backline, and helped push the side up the table. In her seven games in the Adran South last season, Celtic only lost once, and it was to unbeaten Briton Ferry.
In those seven games, the team only conceded nine goals, boasting one of the meanest defences across the country. With Ferry now promoted to the Adran Premier, the top of the Adran South looks uncertain, but as the saying goes, attack wins you games, but defence wins you championships.
Bowen-Quirk has experience of playing in the Adran Premier, and how she would love to be there again with this Cwmbran Celtic side.
Nicole Fenton (Pontypridd United)
There are plenty of young players who are part of this Pontypridd United team this season, but Nicole Fenton could be the standout.
When Claire O’Sullivan arrived for the second part of last season, plenty of young players got a chance to get some regular Adran Premier minutes. From January onwards, Fenton appeared in all but one of Ponty’s games, and while she didn’t get involved in any goal-scoring, getting that game time against higher-ranked teams proved vital.
The evidence of that is seen in her first two games in the Adran Trophy. Recording two goals and three assists in matches against Cambrian United and Cwmbran Celtic, Fenton seems to have found her form.
If she can carry on like this into the start of the season and beyond, Ponty could be back in the top flight sooner rather than later.
Katie Richards (Penybont)
When you’re a newly promoted side, you need game changes, and Penybont certainly have that in the form of striker Katie Richards.
For a striker so young, her goalscoring record last season in the third tier was absolutely jaw-dropping. In 24 games in all competitions, Richards scored an insane 43 goals. That’s practically two goals per game! Any striker at any level would be delighted with a record like that.
The question will be, can she translate this form into the second tier? Well, if we look at Bont’s Adran Trophy games, it suggests she could well keep her hot streak going. While Richards hasn’t scored yet, Penybont have defeated both Cwmbran Celtic and Cambrian United, and have put themselves in a strong position to go through to the second round.
There’s lot of positivity around the SDM Glass Stadium about what Penybont could do in the Adran South, but with players like Richards around, the sky could very well be the limit.
