Cyncoed Ladies’ Director of Football Fern Burrage-Male said she was left “really pleased” to see her side secure back to back home Welsh Women’s Premier League wins against Cascade YT Ladies.
Second-half goals from Millie Jones and Caitlin Bevan ensured the Mighty Oaks came away from USW Sports Park with a 2-0 victory over the Caerphilly based side.
After having to battle adverse weather conditions in Pontypridd, it was the hosts who edged the opening 45 but they couldn’t find the back of the net, despite having an effort ruled out for offside, as the two teams went into the interval scoreless.
However, 16-year-old Jones scored the opened the scoring after 57 minutes when she left Hollie Williams rooted to the spot.
And the win was secured in stoppage time after another fantastic effort into the top corner from Bevan moved Josh Richards’ side up two places to fourth in the table.
“We want to make USW our fortress, we want it to be really difficult for teams to come here to break us down,” said Burrage-Male after the match.
“We want to make people to dread coming here and the fact we’ve got a result, we are building this at home on world class facilities here at USW is brilliant.”
And Burrage-Male was full of praise for the two goalscorers.
“Millie is a young player and has a great future ahead of her. Caitlin, at once stage we thought we had lost her to America to and play football, and the fact she has come back has been brilliant and just raises the standard of the team.
“It’s really good to have them and for both of them to be on the scoresheet.”
Both teams started the day on three points with victories against Aberystwyth Town Ladies after defeats to Cardiff Metropolitan University Ladies and Abergavenny Women in their opening three matches.
Both Seren Watkins and Alison Witts looked dangerous in the opening 45 with the former denied twice by Williams.
And the visitors captain Annalise Lewis was the heart and soul of everything good going forward for Cascade, who are playing their first season in the Premier League, but they couldn’t find a way past goalkeeper Maisie Jones.
But, just 12 minutes into the second-half Jones searched forward, and after great footwork, the teenager found herself on the edge of the area before she calmly side-footed home to spark wild celebrations from the bench.
The goal gave Cyncoed confidence and had a flurry of shots in quick succession but Williams was there to gather everything up, including tipping a wonderful shot round the post from Witts.
Watkins, who picked the ball back up following a short corner, then saw her cross into the mix hanging dangerously in the air before coming back of the crossbar.
And when the ball rebounded back into the box, no one was able to turn the ball home and Sam Daniels’ side was able to clear the danger.
Holly Hughes had the best opportunity to score the equaliser when she found herself free from around six-yards-out and looked certain to level the score but she only could direct her header against the post.
Bevan made sure of the points from the edge of the area with a another well-taken strike into the top left-hand corner in the 91st minute to make sure of the three points.
Burrage-Male said: “I am really pleased with the win. Just before lockdown we had a pretty tough defeat (4-0 at Abergavenny Women) and it was good to have that period of transition during the lockdown and a bit of break, reassess things and we have come back fighting fit with a victory, which was really good.
“It is really good to see some of things we have worked on in training and away from the pitch in the analysis work and it came to life.
“We controlled the game in the first-half and then we were able to get two goals and steady the result for us, it was good.”
Both sides are back in action on Sunday in the Women’s League Cup with Cyncoed Ladies traveling to Swansea City Ladies, while Cascade YC Ladies visit Abergavenny Women FC, with the two Cup ties kicking off at 14:00 GMT.
Cyncoed Ladies: Maisie Jones, Grace Morris, Jessica Osborne, Millie Jones, Clare Daley, Caitlin Meadows, Seren Watkins, Kirstie Pervin-Davies (C), Caitlin Bevan, Kerry Moore (Ellie Gunney, 64) and Alison Witts.
Goals: Millie Jones, 57 and Caitlin Bevan, 90+1
Cascade YC Ladies: Hollie Williams, Sophie Hamer, Casey Thomas, Charlotte Palmer, Celsey Williams (Daisy Evan-Watkins, 45), Holly Hughes, Annaliese Lewis (C), Fifon James, Mia Kemp, Zoe Anthony (Chrystalla Moreton, 55) and Jodi Bowles (Katie Davies, 55)
Goals:
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