Tuesday 16th July 2024, Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli 

Stephen @StephenJBaker recaps the closing game in the Cymru Women’s’ Nations League Campaign.

The final game of the Nations League Group B saw a top versus bottom match up as Cymru took on Kosovo in Llanelli. Cymru only needed one point to secure promotion back to Group A, to go along with their seeded playoff draw. Despite what was on the line, all the pre match talk was about one person; Cymru legend Jessica Fishlock. Fishlock needed one goal to go past Helen Ward to become Cymru’s leading goal scorer.

It didn’t take long for history to be made. The new look Cymru team attacked from the off, and were in complete control. Rhian Wilkinson made five changes from Friday night’s game against Croatia. Safia Middleton-Patel for Olivia Clark, Lilly Woodham for Ella Powell, Charlie Estcourt for Ceri Holland, Carrie Jones for Rachel Rowe and Mary McAteer for Kayleigh Green.

After eight minutes of total domination by Cymru, history was made. Jessica Fishlock, the Cymru Legend, became Jessica Fishlock Cymru’s Greatest Ever Goal Scorer.

Rhiannon Roberts started the move with a 1-2 with Safia Middleton-Patel, then a pass across the box to Gemma Evans who looked up to see Sophie Ingle just inside the Cymru half. A side pass to Angharad James, who then passed into the Kosovo half to Carrie Jones who went on a bursting run through the midfield. She fed Jess Fishlock ten yards outside the box. One touch took Fishlock into the Kosovar box and from fifteen yards she curled it past the keeper. History made!

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With Fishlock now in the records books, Cymru could start to think about the playoff draw which takes place on Friday the 19th. Cymru will find out who they will meet in the two leg Semi Final in October and hopefully who they could play in the two leg Final in November.

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But before that Cymru still had a match to win, a match that was all but over in the 27th minute, when Jess Fishlock pounced on a mistake on the edge of the box. With only one touch, she unleashed a powerful shot that hit the left hand post. Mary McAteer who anticipated where the rebound was going, slotted home for her first international goal. A goal which Fishlock celebrated has much as her own.

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With all the changes that were made in the second half, the game had a friendly feel. But it was a priceless experience for the young players that Rhian Wilkinson brought on. Cymru coasted the second half, but Kosovo should have scored just before the hour, when Hayley Ladd hesitated for a second and Captain Ereleta Memeti took advantage. She fed an excellent pass to Valentina Limani who was clear at the edge of the box. She though snatched at the shot and put the ball way over the bar.

Yes we were all expecting more goals, but it was job done at the end of a long hard season. Cymru topped the group and were promoted back to League A and more importantly are a seeded team in the playoff semi final draw on Friday. History was made today and let’s hope for more history in October and November.

Llongyfarchiadau Jess!

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