Forget the league: we’ve a cup to defend as well!
The Wrexham Angle
The draw has hardly been kind to us: we won’t be playing a home tie in our defence of the Adran Trophy, with ties at Swansea and TNS the likely path if we’re to return to the final this season, but first we need to get past a side which has started the Adran North campaign really well.
We’ve been rotating in the league, so surely we’ll look to do the same in this match, except more so. We’ll need to judge just how far we can make alterations, although Jenny Sugarman will rightly feel that every member of her squad is worthy of her trust.
It will be an interesting gauge of where Mikayla Wildgoose, Liv Fuller and Evie Holt are on their recoveries from injury if they are given starts. Our excellent form has meant we haven’t had to rush to bring Wildgoose or Fuller back into the team, but both look in good shape. Mariam Mahmood will be eager to get into the first eleven as she has only started one game this season, Evie Sadler will hope for a chance to get some more minutes too, and Ana Jones has been with the squad all season and could easily get some minutes.
There’s every chance Sophie Nash will be in the 16, but it will be interesting to see who gets the nod in goal. Lizzie Craven has had an excellent start to the season, but Lucy Farrell returned to the side against Briton Ferry and made a couple of fine saves, especially when she tipped Megan Kearle’s shot onto the bar.
Of course, if Lili Jones gets onto the pitch she’ll set an outright club record for most appearances. It might be we reserve her for further challenges after our fortnight off though.
Known injuries: Josie Smith, Katie Barker.
Suspension: –
Possible debuts: Sophie Nash.
Previously…
The View From The Other Side
While we’ve racked up goals against second tier teams in recent cup ties, Llanfair United are likely to present rather stiffer opposition. They went into last weekend’s home match against Connah’s Quay Nomads top of the Adran North, although there were unable to counteract the force of nature that is Rosie Hughes: she scored twice as United suffered their first league defeat of the season.
They’re used to winning, having finished second in each of the last two seasons to Connah’s Quay, and have strengthened from last time round as they look to finally earn a tilt at the southern champions in the promotion play-off. Maria Ewers and Grace Thomas are a pair of interesting young loan signings from TNS, and Thomas already has three goals and three assists from six matches.
Then there’s Tanya Wilde, the Adran North Player of the Season in 2025-26, who scored 12 in nine games last term and has three to her name already this time round. As player-manager Lucie Gwillt explains in the excellent Cymru Sport’s Adran Leagues Show, United have nothing to lose going into this tie and a chance to set themselves up for the rest of the season.
Jodie Carswell is the one member of the regular side from last season to have left, joining Berriew.
Known injuries:
Suspension: –
Leave a Reply