WALES TAKE ON KAZAKHSTAN IN EURO QUALIFIER

Alys Hinchcliffe is in the full Wales squad

Wales host Kazakhstan in Haverfordwest on Thursday in a Euro 2017 qualifier.
The squad includes two North Walians in Alys Hinchcliffe of Yeovil Town and Nia Jones of Reading.
Jayne Ludlow's side lost 3-0 away to Austria in their Group 8 opener before a 4-0 defeat by Norway in October.
Wales are bottom of the group after two defeats and are away to Israel on 1 December following their home game against Kazakhstan.
“We were given a tough start to qualifying, following away matches against Austria and Norway, who are two of the best teams in our group,” commented manager Ludlow.
However, the Wales boss believes that her squad has taken strength from playing against such high calibre opposition and added: “Despite suffering defeats in both games, we have become a stronger team and are determined to get a result against Kazakhstan.”
“Everyone’s working hard as always,” added experienced attacker Natasha Harding. “I thought we done really well against Norway and our performance didn’t reflect the result.
"We’ll have the support behind us (in Haverfordwest) and hopefully we can get the three points.”
Thursday's tie at New Bridge Meadow kicks off at 2pm.
Wales squad: Alice Evans (Sinnai Calcio), Jo Price (unattached), Loren Dykes (Bristol WFC), Sophie Ingle (Bristol WFC), Angharad James (Bristol WFC), Laura-May Walkley (Reading Ladies), Rachel Rowe (Reading Ladies), Nia Jones (Reading Ladies), Helen Ward (Reading Ladies), Melissa Fletcher (Reading Ladies), Rhiannon Roberts (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Hayley Ladd (Bristol WFC), Natasha Harding (Manchester City Women), Charlie Estcourt (Reading Ladies), Helen Bleazard (Yeovil Town Ladies), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Kayleigh Green (Cardiff City Ladies), Chloe Lloyd (Cardiff City Ladies), Nadia Lawrence (Bristol WFC), Alys Hinchcliffe (Yeovil Town Ladies), Shaunna Jenkins (Cwmbran Celtic), Amelia Ritchie (Brighton Ladies), Chloe Chivers (Cwmbran Celtic).

FOUR-SOME DENBIGH LADIES LEAD THE TABLE

POINT LADIES 0

DENBIGH TOWN LADIES 4 (Charlotte Morris 2, Joanna McKinney, Emily Morris)

NORTH WALES WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE - NOV 22, 2015

Denbigh travelled to Point Ladies on Sunday in the latest round of North Wales Women's League fixtures and came away with another three points.

The tone for the game was set within five minutes when Denbigh right back Lucy Morris struck the bar after a fine move down the right-hand side.

Denbigh continued to press and after another couple of close calls from Chelsea Doherty and Chelsea Williams they eventually took the lead on 15 minutes. 

A fine run down the right by Lucy Morris culminated in her playing a delightful pass into the path of Charlotte Morris who fired low into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Next up Denbigh struck the bar again from a fine right footed strike from Joanna McKinney from just outside the box. 

McKinney netted five minutes later when after picking the ball up 30 yards out, she beat four players with some dazzling footwork and calmly slotted home from 10 yards.

The rest of the half continued in the same vein with the away team playing the ball around, creating chances but unable to increase their lead so the score remained 0-2 at half time.

The second half followed exactly the same pattern with the home side defending in depth and Denbigh trying to break them down.

It took 10 minutes of the second half for the away side to make the breakthrough when a fine move down the left wing ended with Charlotte Morris sliding a pass into the the run of Emily Morris who drove into the box and finished with a fine left foot strike.

After several near misses the away team finally increased their lead further on the 65 minute mark when Charlotte Morris made a great run to the near post to get in front of the defender and turn the ball home from a fine cross.

There were several more near misses for Denbigh before the final whistle but, between the home keeper Hollie Groves making some fine saves and defenders putting their bodies on the line, the score remained 0-4 at the end of the game.

NORTH WALES WOMEN'S LEAGUE STANDINGS (played and points)

Denbigh Town P 8 PTS 22 (GD +17)

gap Northop Hall P 7 PTS 19 (+30)

Caernarfon Town P 6 PTS 13 (+13)

Pwllheli P 6 PTS 12 (+5)

Llanfair United P 6 PTS 8 (+2)

Airbus P 6 PTS 7 (-1)

Amlwch Town P 8 PTS 7 (-3)

Bethel P 7 PTS 6 (-3)

Kinmel Bay P 8 PTS 3 (-24)

Point P 8 PTS 3 (-36)

BOWE HAT-TRICK LIFTS LLANDUDNO OFF THE BASEMENT

Katie Louise Bowe (red) notched a hat-trick for Llandudno

KATIE Louise Bowe made it back-to-back hat-tricks as MBi Llandudno climbed off the bottom of the Welsh Premier Women's League with a 3-3 home draw against Port Talbot Town.
Bowe scored with a header and a magnificent free kick to make it 2-2 at half time, Sian Scannell and Vicky Stratton replying for the visitors.
Scannell edged Port ahead in the second half, but a Bowe half-volley from distance levelled the scores and Tudno had chances to win it before the end.
Rhyl and Prestatyn produced a late rally to beat Newcastle Emlyn 3-2 at the Corbett Sports Stadium.
Jeannie Lojstrup's double put the away side two up before Lucy Davies, Ashleigh Mills and Laura Williams turned the tables to win it for the hosts.
Depleted Wrexham were beaten 14-1 at home by champions Cardiff Metropolitan, for whom Erin Murray scored five.
Steph Taylor netted for Wrexham, who are struggling badly for players having lost so many regulars in recent times. One can only hope their difficulties improve.
Other score: Cardiff City 4 (Danielle Green, Shannon Evans 3) PILCS 1 (Jassie Vasconcetos)


NORTH WALES LEAGUE
Champions Denbigh Town triumphed 4-0 at Point.
Charlotte Morris (2), Joanne McKinney and Emily Morris were the away scorers.
gap Northop Hall thrashed Kinmel Bay 8-0 thanks to goals from Laura Pennington 3, Emily Hughes 2, Annie Marie Jones 2 and Haf Morgan Reece.
The Hall manager was also delighted with the team's defensive display which led to a clean sheet.
Amlwch Town grabbed a 1-1 draw with Bethel thanks to a late equaliser from Lexi Musgrave.
Postponed: Airbus v Caernarfon, Llanfair United v Pwllheli.

GIANT-KILLERS DENBIGH LADIES INTO QUARTER-FINALS FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING

Lexie Smith in action for Denbigh (orange shirt - top and bottom picture)

ALL PICTURES BY KIND COURTESY OF CHRIS HOWELLS 
Newcastle Emlyn 3
Denbigh Town 4 (Edwards 3, Williams)
FAW Women's Welsh Cup round two - November 15, 2015

Denbigh Ladies made the long trip to face Premier League team Newcastle Emlyn and produced a giant killing act to achieve a place in the quarter final for the second consecutive year.

The away team began the game slightly below par, probably due to the long coach journey, and were having to defend and play on the break in the first 15 minutes, although Emlyn were not threatening the goal.

And it was in fact Denbigh who went closest when Chelsea Williams fed Sam Blackmore on the edge of the box but the keeper produced a marvellous save, pushing the ball over the bar.

On 20 minutes a Denbigh attack ended with the keeper making a good save, pushing a shot back out but Chelsea Williams following up calmly picked her spot and shot home right-footed for 1-0.

The lead was short lived and within two minutes the home side were level, a mix up in the home defence allowing the attacker to fire home from what looked like an obvious offside position.

Denbigh were now more than matching the home side and on 40 minutes Mari Edwards picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove at the home defence. 

The attacker beat two defenders, raced through on goal, went round the keeper and finished right footed from a tight angle.

Again the Denbigh lead only lasted two minutes and Emlyn got the equaliser again from a penalty given for a push in the box - 2-2 half time.

Denbigh began the second half in fine style and forced the home team onto the back foot. 

Chances began to come with Mari Edwards and Chelsea Williams both going close before, on 57 minutes they again took the lead. 

Mari Edwards, 22 yards out, controlled a poor kick out from the keeper, after the ball was passed back to her, and drove into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Denbigh were now dominating and it seemed as though it was only a matter of time before they increased their lead with chances for Chelsea Doherty, Williams and Edwards all being well saved by the keeper.

From a rare Emlyn attack on 83 minutes the home side equalised again, when after a couple of passes through midfield the attacker was played through and slotted past the keeper.

Back came Denbigh again and two minutes later the lead was restored when Doherty fed the ball through for Mari Edwards to race in behind the defence and strike the ball sweetly past the keeper for her hat-trick.

Denbigh were still on top and suffered no more scares as they saw the game out , even through the 12 minutes of added time, to complete a famous victory against the odds and make it through to the last eight of the competition again. 

SEVEN HEAVEN FOR MBi LLANDUDNO

Rosie Hughes (red) scored twice for Llandudno

MBi Llandudno 7 (Bowe 50, 81 and 90; Owen 12 and 35; Hughes 73 and 76)
Llanfair United 1 (Jones 70)
FAW Women's Welsh Cup second round

IT was a magnificent seven for Llandudno as they took apart North Wales League side Llanfair United in Sunday's Welsh Cup second round tie at Maesdu Park.
Sofie Owen broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when she made a driving run, took advantage of a defender's slip and applied a fine finish.
Owen added a second on 35 minutes when she rounded off a fantastic team move.
It was 2-0 at half time but Tudno could have been further ahead, Katie Louise Bowe testing keeper Tracey Godsell and seeing another long range effort go close.
The floodgates opened in the second half, Bowe nutmegging the keeper from inside the box for 3-0.
Llanfair pulled one back through Gemma Jones, but Rosie Hughes then grabbed a double for the Welsh Premier side, her first a thumping finish in off the bar following a Bowe free kick.
In the closing minutes midfield magician Bowe took centre stage.
She delighted the home fans with one cracking goal from distance and repeated the feat in the latter stages.
Llanfair chose defender Jemila Bukari as Llandudno's Player of the Match.

FAW WOMEN'S CUP SECOND ROUND RESULTS

FAW Women's Welsh Cup Round Two results

MBi Llandudno 7 (Bowe 3, Owen 2, Hughes 2) Llanfair United 1 (Jones)
Newcastle Emlyn 3 Denbigh Town 4 (Edwards 3, Williams)
gap Northop Hall v Wrexham - Hall progress on walkover after Wrexham's withdrawal
Cardiff City FC 8 Camrose 0
Landore Colts v Cardiff Met - Met progress on walkover after Landore's withdrawal
PILCS 3 Cwmbran Celtic 5
Port Talbot Town P Cyncoed P
Swansea City P Briton Ferry Llansawel P

Quarter-final draw will be made next week when the Wales international squad meets up

A HAPPY LANDMARK BIRTHDAY TO JOY JAMIESON!

A BELATED happy 50th birthday to Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies talisman Joy Jamieson.
Joy's experience has guided her team through their first couple of seasons in the Welsh Premier Women's League.
She is an inspiration to female players everywhere with her fitness and dedication to the game.
The wife of Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies FC manager Tom, Joy displays tremendous stamina and zest in every game she plays and proves once more that age is just a number.
Below is a link to a Female Focus feature Joy participated in with the Daily Post recently.
All the best Joy.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/female-focus-rhyl-prestatyns-joy-10223642

HAT-TRICKS FOR BOWE AND EDWARDS AS LLANDUDNO AND DENBIGH ADVANCE IN WELSH CUP

Katie Louise Bowe (red) hit a hat-trick for MBi Llandudno

Denbigh Town's Mari Edwards (red) scored three times at Newcastle Emlyn

MBi Llandudno and Denbigh Town will be two of three teams flying the flag for North Wales in the last eight of the FAW Women's Welsh Cup after a goal-packed afternoon of second round games.
gap Northop Hall are already into the quarter-finals after their tie with Wrexham became a walkover with the Reds withdrawing from the competition.
Today's action saw Llandudno thrash Llanfair United 7-1 at Maesdu Park, while North Wales League champions Denbigh pulled off a giant-killing by winning 4-3 at Welsh Premier side Newcastle Emlyn.
Town made it to the quarter-finals for a second season running after a Mari Edwards hat-trick and Chelsea Williams strike secured a hard-fought victory for John Clayton's side.
It was far more emphatic for WPWL outfit Llandudno at the expense of North Wales League opponents who they knocked out of the tournament 5-1 last season.
Star performer for Tudno was Katie Louise Bowe, who netted with two typical long-range efforts and nutmegged the keeper for another to complete a hat-trick.
Sofie Owen's first-half double put the hosts two-up at the break and Rosie Hughes also added a double in the second period. Gemma Jones netted a consolation for Llanfair.
MORE DETAILED REPORTS WILL APPEAR ON THE BELLES ON THE BALL BLOG SOON

THIS WEEKEND'S FIXTURES

Swansea City celebrate last season's FAW Women's Cup success

FAW Women's Cup second round - Sunday, November 15 (1.30pm kick-offs)

Gap Northop Hall v Wrexham
Tie postponed due to Wrexham withdrawing from the cup.

MBi Llandudno v Llanfair United 
Llandudno were on a high after knocking out Rhyl and Prestatyn 4-0 in the last round.
Next up for the Seasiders is the visit of North Wales League side Llanfair United.
The teams met in last season's Welsh Cup and Llandudno won 5-1.

Newcastle Emlyn v Denbigh Town
Last season's quarter-finalists Denbigh will be aiming for a giant-killing when they visit Welsh Premier side Newcastle Emlyn this Sunday.
Emlyn are one off the bottom of the WWPL, while Town are on course for a repeat of last season's North Wales League championship success as they currently top the 2015/16 table.

Other ties
Cardiff City FC v Camrose
Landore Colts v Cardiff Metropolitan - Met win on walkover
PILCS v Cwmbran Celtic
Port Talbot Town v Cyncoed
Swansea City v Briton Ferry Llansawel

WELCOME TO BELLES ON THE BALL

Aberystwyth Town and MBi Llandudno in Welsh Premier League action. Pic: Chris Howells

Hi everyone this is a new blog on women's football entitled Belles on the Ball.
The blog will mainly cover North and Mid-Wales women's and girls football but will occasionally spread its wings.
Based on the former column of the same name in the Daily Post, Belles on the Ball will aim to cover all the latest news on women's and girls football across the region.
If you have any items you would like published on the blog, please e-mail davydolphin@gmail.com