Cardiff City came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Abergavenny Women at Pen-y-Pound Stadium.
Lyndsey Davies had given the Pennies an early lead but Phoebie Poole equalised three minutes later. Amy Thrupp scored five minutes before half-time but her strike was cancelled out by substitute Jasmine Simpson ten minutes from time.
The Bluebirds extend their unbeaten run to five matches, picking up 10 points from the 15 on offer. Abergavenny meanwhile pick up just their second point from their last five.
Cardiff City narrow the gap slightly on second-place Cardiff Met however they have a game in hand and aren’t in action on Sunday.
Abergavenny took the lead with the first meaningful chance of the match. Lyndsey Davies positioned herself on the right side of the box to strike home a powerful volley.
The lead wouldn’t last long however as Cardiff City would respond immediately with an equaliser. Phoebie Poole carried the ball from the referee’s advantage and struck a low effort into the corner to earn her seventh league goal of the season.
Poole’s equaliser unsettled the Abergavenny defence and they began to become sloppy in their play with Cardiff almost punishing them. Danielle Green had an opportunity but the linesman’s flag was raised.
Abergavenny regrouped from conceding though and had two opportunities. Mali Summers first tested the goalkeeper from a free-kick, as well as Amy Thrupp forcing a save from Charlotte Hastings.
Five minutes from the break, the hosts retook the lead through Thrupp to give them a first-half lead.
Abergavenny broke on the counter-attack after surviving a goal-line scare and there was Thrupp to power a shot in off of the post.
After what was a fast-paced start to the first-half, the second was the opposite. Both sides started on a slow burner and instead tried to plan their attacks.
Cardiff City introduced forward Jasmine Simpson at the break in the place of defender Lisa Owen as they sought another response to falling behind.
Simpson’s first piece of action was to force a save from the goalkeeper after being found by Danielle Green.
Cardiff very nearly were on level terms through no effort of their own as a backpass almost ended in the net, though it went the other side of the post.
There were claims of handball from Cardiff City players as Danielle Green whipped in the ball to the back post, however, nothing was given by the referee.
Simpson gave another warning to the Abergavenny defence of her ability as she almost caused them problems but Zara Pernalete did well to claim the ball from her feet after rushing out in a one-on-one.
Cardiff were level on terms with just over 15 minutes remaining however and it was Simpson who was on target. The 19-year-old carried the ball into the box and was able to touch home into an empty net after some neat footwork.
A late scare was given to Cardiff however as Thrupp in search of a second, narrowly missed the target, meanwhile, substitute Mikayla Cook also had a chance for Cardiff.
The last action of the match saw Mali Summers force a save out of her former teammate Hastings from a free-kick.
Abergavenny’s Craig Morgan-Hill said:
“It’s a great point. We started well and took our goals really well but Cardiff just kept coming at us.
“They caused us issues with their tactical set up and we are really pleased to get a point, especially when they were on top for large periods of the second half.
“They are an in form team and we should great resilience to hold on and almost pinched it at the end.
“It’s definitely a point gained and allows us to build now and get back to where we were prior to lockdown.”
Cardiff City’s Hannah Daley said:
“A great team performance coming back from behind twice.
“It is gutting not take all three points but so many positives from our second-half performance.
“Our youngsters Jasmine Simpson and Phoebie Poole gave unreal performances.”
Abergavenny: Zara Mujica Pernalete, Megan Jones, Lauren Boyd, Mali Summers, Jessica Bennett, Olivia Barnes (Elena Scrivens, 81), Eliza Atkins (Lauren Daniels, 76), Ceri Hudson Lyndsey Davies, Amy Thrupp, Amy Williams (Sian Bull, 69)
Goals: Lyndsey Davies 5, Amy Thrupp 40
Cardiff City: Charlotte Hastings, Lisa Owen (Jasmine Simpson, 46), Ffion Price, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C) Kanisha Underdown, Danielle Broadhurst (Sophie Norman, 81), Danielle Green (Mikayla Cook, 74), Phoebie Poole, Catherine Walsh, Cerys Pinchard.
Goals: Phoebie Poole 8, Jasmine Simpson 76′
Recap the action from Pen-y-Pound Stadium by following our live blog below:
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