Deeside Dragons women's team play their first ever game (Photo by Adam Bassett)
Saturday
5th September 2026 – WNIHL Div 2 N: Deeside Dragons Women 13 – Leeds
Thorns 1
The
Deeside Dragons women’s team opened their debut league campaign with a
comprehensive 13-1 victory over Leeds Thorns at Deeside Leisure Centre on
Saturday.
It
has been 16 years since a women’s team last played out of the north Wales rink
and it was rather fitting that the first goal of this new era was scored by
former Flintshire Furies player – now Dragons player coach - Emma Pearson after
6 minutes and 21 seconds of the first period.
Further
goals followed – from Niamh Walsh, Charlotte McAdam and Lucy Kirkham – and the
Dragons Women led 4-0 at the first period break.
The
visiting Leeds team put in a spirited performance but were no match for Deeside
and the Dragons scored two more goals – from Grace Taylor on 24 minutes and
McAdam again on 29 – before they managed to find the back of the net for the only
time of the game on 33 minutes.
Deeside
responded quickly with a goal from Ava Langford just 50 seconds later, a strike
from Alicia Smith on 36 minutes and a hat-trick goal for Mc Adam with just 53
seconds left in the period. The Dragons took
a 9-1 lead into the second interval and looked well in control.
The
third period continued in similar vein with Deeside well on top and outshooting
the visitors by some 3 to 1 overall. Goals from Teagan Walsh, Niamh Walsh, Ava
Langford and Lucy Kirkham rounded off the scoring for the game and the Dragons women
were able to celebrate their maiden league victory.
 |
| Chloe Smith was the Dragons Women's MVP against Leeds (Photo by Paul Breeze) |
Despite
being the less busy of the two netminders, Chloe Smith put in a solid performance
in the Deeside goal in her fist ever senior WNIHL game, narrowly missed out on
getting a shut out and was named MVP for her sterling efforts. The MVP award
for Leeds went to Grace Eggett.
Talking
afterwards about the game, Dragons player coach and overall Women’s Lead at
Deeside, Emma Pearson said:
“Yesterday
was an incredible start to the first ever season for the Dragons women's team.
There hasn't been a women's team at Deeside for around 16 years and to see all
the people who came down to support us was just amazing.”
“We
had a lot of under 16s and girls who have just turned 16 icing and that was the
main reason why we wanted to set the team up. We want them to have somewhere to
progress to and to help keep them in the sport after they turn 16. I'm very
proud of the team and what we have achieved so far.”
The
full Deeside squad for this historic first league game was:
Chloe
Smith (NM), Ava Langford, Emma Pearson (Player/ Coach) , Lucy Kirkham (C) ,
Grace Taylor, Sophie Royle, Jessica Petley, Autumn Lennon, Niamh Walsh, Teagan
Walsh, Alicia Smith, Katie Jenkinson, Jenny Wild, Eleanor Johnson, Charlotte
McAdam, Emily Davies, Lana Botes.
Bench
Coaches: Phil Pearson, Gary Shaw, Dave Clancy & Stewart Cutting,
Match
Officials: George Perrett & Adam Hedges
The
Dragons women’s team have three away games in a row now – at Kingston (Hull)
Diamonds on 20th September, Manchester Storm on 3rd
October and Nottingham Vipers on 10th October. They are next at home on Saturday 17th
October when they take on Kingston at Deeside Leisure Centre, 6.30pm face off.
The
full list of fixtures for the Dragons Women’s 2026/27 WNIHL season is as
follows:
- Sat 5th Sept: Home v Leeds Thorns (won 13-1)
- Sun 20th Sep: Away @ Kingston Diamonds
- Sat 3rd Oct: Away @ Manchester Storm
- Sat 10th Oct: Away @ Nottingham Vipers
- Sat 17th Oct: Home v Kingston Diamonds - 6.30pm
- Sat 31st Oct: Home v Whitley Bay Beacons - 6pm
- Sun 8th Nov: Away @ Nottingham Vipers
- Sat 14thNov: Away @ Manchester Storm
- Sat 28th Nov: Away @ Whitley Bay Beacons (at Dumfries)
- Sun 6th Dec: Away @ Leeds Thorns
- Sun 10th Jan: Away @ Kingston Diamonds
- Sat 6th Feb: Home v Leeds Thorns - 5.45pm
- Sat 13th Feb: Home v Nottingham Vipers - 6pm
- Sat 20th Mar: Home v Whitley Bat Beacons - 6.15pm
- Sat 3rd April: Away @ Whitley Bay Beacons (at Dumfries)
- Sat 10th April: Home v Kingston Diamonds - 6pm
- Sat 17th Apr: Home v Manchester Storm - 6pm
- Sat 24th Apr: Home v Manchester Storm - 6pm
- Sat 1st May: Home v Nottingham Vipers - 6pm
- Sat 15th May: Away @ Leeds Thorns
