Katie Midwinter strikes twice as Bethel cane champions on opening day

Wins for Pwllheli and Llanfair

Katie Midwinter takes on Northop Hall's Abbie Holland (Image: Jody Cain)

Bethel 4 (Y Williams, F Williams, Midwinter 2)

Northop Hall 1 (G Williams)

Bethel could not have wished for a better start to their North Wales Women's League campaign as they thrashed reigning champions Northop Hall 4-1 last Sunday.

The match took place at CPD Y Felinheli's Cae Seilo ground, where the ladies have kindly been allowed to play this season.

Bethel went into the game off the back of a good pre-season and welcomed a handful of the successful under-16's to their squad.

It did not take them long to get used to their new surroundings, as 20 seconds into the match, striker Erin Maloney rounded the Northop goalkeeper, but her shot was blocked by a covering defender.

Bethel dominated the opening stages, keeping the ball and patiently waiting their chance to spring an attack.

Ffion Williams and Maloney both tested the goalkeeper's hands, letting her know she was in for a long day.

Bethel won a free kick on the 30-minute mark, just off the left touchline. Young midfielder Yasmin Williams stepped up and whipped an unstoppable dipping strike over the keeper's head and into the net, sending the Bethel faithful into uproar and making it 1-0. Williams making her debut for the senior side after graduating from the 16's.

The goal gave Northop the kick they needed to bring themselves into the game and they began pressing the Bethel back-line.

Just before half time they struck back, the home defence failing to clear a loose ball in the area and Gemma Williams pounced, her shot deceiving everyone and ending up in the goal to level the score at the break.

As the second half began Bethel came out flying. Jody Cain won the ball in midfield and passed to Yasmin Williams who sent an early ball over the top to Maloney, whose cross-come-shot floated over the keeper's hands and hit the far post, but the ever dangerous Ffion Williams got to the rebound first to tap into an empty net.

The introduction of Katie Houghton and Katie Midwinter changed the game for Bethel and breathed new life into the encounter.

Houghton got on the ball in midfield and released Midwinter, who turned a defender and beat another before hitting a 25 yard thunderbolt that left the helpless Northop keeper stranded and made it 3-1.

Super-sub Midwinter then notched her second and Bethel's fourth. A good pass from Houghton once again found Midwinter in space outside the area. She beat two players before finding herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and she calmly slotted home with her left foot.

Maloney could have made it five, but her shot was pushed onto the crossbar.

Northop simply could not live with Bethel's intensity and fitness and the longer the game went on, the more the maroons' dominance showed. A big three points to start the season for a new-look youthful Bethel side.

Bethel thank CPD Y Felinheli for allowing them to use their field for this match and the remainder of the season.

* Bethel are due to play away at Denbigh Town this Sunday.

Prestatyn 2 (Hobbs, Scott)

Pwllheli 5 (Thomas 3, Jones 2)

Pwllheli Ladies made a storming start to the new North Wales Women's League season with a 5-2 victory at Prestatyn.

Last season's top-scorer in the league, Lois Thomas, carried on where she left off with a hat-trick while player of the match Sioned Jones added a double in this Division One clash.