Published Sunday 15 November 2020 Aberdare Town’s new look women’s team finally got to play their first game since coming together as a squad under a brand new management team and put on a clinical display. Manager Zoe Denman-Ellis was appointed back in February but with the pandemic this was the first time she was able to take her place in the dugout as they made the trip to face Tonyrefail Welfare Ladies. Having rebuilt the team from scratch and with some players making not only their first senior appearances but also their first in football, took the lead with a stunning free-kick from Danielle Dakin-Weston. Indie Morgan added a second followed by Grace Evans finding the back of the net to go into the half-time break 3- 0 ahead. A missed penalty from the hosts would have given them a route back into the game but it just further inspired the Aber players and Morgan notched her second of the game before Natalie Rees converted a penalty. Rees then scored her second of the afternoon before rounding off the day with the team’s seventh and claiming her hat-trick. At the final whistle the boss was clearly delighted with what she saw: “It was a good performance from the entire team after a nervous start. I’m really proud of them all and following the recent lockdown we had only been able to have one training session before today and since we started training a few months ago it was the first time we could get everybody together. We are just so pleased to be able to get out and play friendlies and get the team working together”. Clearly it was an impressive start but Zoe was also quick to remind everybody not to get ahead of themselves: “It was a really good result and performance, you could tell all the squad enjoyed it, but we need to make sure that everybody stays level headed and with feet on the ground and we can get another training session in before another friendly next week but it gives us a good platform to build from”. Harrent Properties Player of the Match: Natalie Rees

Women’s team off to a flyer