Cardiff City Women 4-1 Cascade Ladies: Zoe Atkins at the double for victorious Bluebirds
21/04/2021 - Cardiff City 4-1 Cascade Ladies © Mike James
Cardiff City stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with a 4-1 win over a battling Cascade Ladies at the Ocean Park Arena.
The Bluebirds raced to a two-goal lead through Pheobie Poole and Zoe Atkins’ strikes, only to be pegged back on the stroke of half-time by Abbie Davies.
Second-half strikes from Atkins and substitute Danielle Green put the contest beyond doubt, as the hosts secured another three points.
The victory sees Iain Darbyshire’s side remain third in the Welsh Premier Women’s League table.
Despite a spirited display, Cascade succumbed to their eighth loss of the season, as they stay at the bottom of the table.
The Bluebirds came out of the blocks quickly and took the lead in just the second minute.
Attacker Poole capitalised on a mistake from Cascade goalkeeper Hollie Williams and fired into the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.
Poole’s strike is her 13th of the season in all competitions, as she continues to impress for Darbyshire’s side.
Despite her early mistake, Williams responded well, as she saved well to deny Mikayla Cook, who was making her first league start for the Bluebirds.
Cook looked lively on the right wing, as she raced through on goal, only to be denied by Williams.
The hosts looked for a second goal, as Poole went close, but was denied by a superb piece of defending by Lana Cooper.
A golden chance then fell to Cook as she met Simpson’s low cross across the box, only to fire over the bar.
Despite Cascade’s resistance, the pressure finally told as the Bluebirds doubled their lead in the 29th minute.
The ball was laid off to Atkins on the edge of the box, who curled superbly into the top corner for her seventh goal of the season.
With two Bluebirds attackers on the scoresheet, Simpson twice went close to getting in on the act, firing wide as she raced through on goal, before striking an effort over the bar from the edge of the box.
On the cusp of half-time, Cascade went close to halving the deficit, as Jodi Bowles fired narrowly over.
The visitors weren’t to be denied however as in the 45th minute, Abbie Davies fired in a superb effort from distance, as Cascade were rewarded for a competitive first-half performance.
Cardiff City started the second period on the front foot and went close to restoring their two-goal lead when Poole was found free in the box, but the lively attacker was denied by Williams.
The Bluebirds’ pressure paid off, as Darbyshire’s side found a third goal in the 55th minute.
Atkins was found free on the back post by Cook to fire past Williams in the Cascade goal for her second of the evening.
The hosts went close to swiftly adding a fourth, as Simpson’s superb effort rattled the woodwork.
Simpson thought she had got herself on the scoresheet as she finished well from Danielle Green’s pass, only to be caught offside.
Much like in the first half, Cascade competed well but fell victim to some clinical Cardiff attacks, as the Bluebirds added a fourth in the 75th minute.
Substitute winger Green met a cross to the back post with a superb header to put the hosts in a commanding position.
In the dying minutes, the influential Atkins went close to securing a hat-trick, but her effort on-the-turn flew narrowly wide.
The scoreline would certainly have been heavier had it not been for the performance of Cascade goalkeeper Williams, who recovered well from her early mistake.
It’s Welsh Premier Women’s League Cup action next up for Cardiff City, as they host Swansea City in the South Wales derby, while Cascade travel to Port Talbot Town in the league this weekend.
Cardiff City Women: Ceryn Chamberlain, Lisa Owen, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C) (Carys Minton 75’), Sophie Norman, Kanisha Underdown (Brooke Evans 75’), Jasmine Simpson (Catherine Walsh 69’), Pheobie Poole (Danielle Green 59’), Zoe Atkins, Cerys Pinchard, Mikayla Cook (Michaela Major 69’)
Goals: Phoebie Poole 2’, Zoe Atkins 29’, 55’, Danielle Green 75’,
Cascade: Hollie Williams, Sophie Hamer, Casey Thomas, Charlotte Palmer, Daisy Evan-Watkins, Katie Davies (C), Lana Cooper, Annaliese Lewis, Abbie Davies, Ffion James, Jodi Bowles
Goals: Abbie Davies 45’
Yellow Cards: Sophie Hamer 34’
Re-live the action from the Ocean Park Arena with our blog below:
