Cardiff Met 2-3 Cardiff City: Phoebie Poole hat-trick sends Bluebirds into final
19/05/2021 - Cardiff Met 2-3 Cardiff City © Carl Robertson
Cardiff City Women booked their place in the Welsh Premier Women’s League Cup Final with a 3-2 victory over Cardiff Metropolitan at Cyncoed Campus.
A superb hat-trick from the influential Phoebie Poole secured a dramatic win for the Bluebirds.
Amy Long and Erin Murray equalised twice for the Archers, but could’t find a third as they applied late pressure.
The Bluebirds will face either Aberystwyth Town or Swansea City for League Cup glory, with the Seasiders and the Swans facing off in tomorrow’s semi-final.
Kerry Harris’ side succumb to a loss at Cyncoed Campus for the first time since 2019 and now turn their attention back to the title race.
Iain Darbyshire’s Bluebirds started brightly and forced an early chance, as winger Zoe Atkins raced in behind to force an early save out of Annabel Sweeney.
The visitors continued their fast start, as Danielle Green found space on the right to deliver a low cross to Poole, who couldn’t quite turn the ball home.
Another chance fell for the Bluebirds’ Young Player of the Season, as she raced through on goal, only to be denied by a fantastic save by Sweeney.
Poole wasn’t to be denied however, as Cardiff City took the lead in the 14th minute.
A superb ball in-behind by defender Hannah Daley found Poole, whose initial effort was saved by Sweeney, but the striker reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.
The Archers reacted well to falling behind and applied pressure on the Bluebirds in a spell of possession.
Harris’ side were rewarded for their positive response, as they found an equaliser in the 22nd minute.
After a number of blocked shots, the ball was played to the left side of the box, where winger Long was on-hand to fire past Hastings and level the scoring.
The Bluebirds went close to restoring their lead, when Atkins beat the offside trap and raced through, only to be denied by another fine save by Sweeney.
Darbyshire’s side continued to press and found their second goal in the 36th minute.
Midfielder Catherine Walsh found Atkins on the left, whose delivery into the box was inch-perfect for Poole to turn home her second goal of the evening.
Shortly before half-time, both sides had opportunities, as Atkins was denied by Sweeney at the back post, with Chloe O’Connor going close for the Archers.
As the Bluebirds went into the break with a 2-1 lead, Darbyshire’s side could have been further ahead had it not been from the superb first-half performance from Archers shot-stopper Sweeney.
The hosts started the second period on the front foot and thought they had equalised when Erin Murray played through Lucy Finch who fire home, but the latter was caught offside.
Another chance fell for the Archers, as captain Stephanie Turner met O’Connor’s corner, but headed wide of the post.
After a spell of pressure and numerous waives of attack, the hosts found the equaliser in the 62nd minute.
Substitute Shannon Evans made an instant impact as she found strike-partner Murray, who fired into the bottom corner to level the scoring.
The Archers had their tails up after the equaliser and went close to taking the lead when Evans squared to Murray, but the striker was denied by a heroic piece of defending from Cerys Pinchard, who cleared off the line.
Despite the hosts’ pressure, Darbyshire’s side remained a danger on the counter-attack and their pace on the break paid dividends, as they regained the lead in the 69th minute.
The highly influential Poole beat the offside trap and raced through, before firing accurately into the bottom corner to secure her hat-trick and put the Bluebirds ahead for the third time.
Substitute Jasmine Simpson had a glorious opportunity to add a fourth, as she got in-behind the Archers defence, but was denied by an excellent save from Sweeney.
Looking to equalise for a third time, the Archers applied pressure, with Evans finding space on the right to deliver for Murray, but Daley cut out the danger well.
Despite Harris’ side’s best efforts to equalise late-on, the Bluebirds defended well to secure a dramatic victory and a place in the final.
Having been knocked out of the League Cup, the Archers’ final game of the season is a must-win in the title race, as they travel to Aberystwyth Town, while Swansea City host Cardiff City in South Wales derby.
Cardiff Met: Annabel Sweeney, Lucy Finch, Hannah Mills, Stephanie Turner (C), Sophie Hancocks, Amy Long, Robyn Pinder (Shannon Evans 60’), Elianna Chavez (Ellie Preece 82’), Chloe O’Connor, Erin Murray, Lauren Hutton-Townsend (Amber Roberts 72’)
Goals: Amy Long 22’, Erin Murray 62’
Cardiff City Women: Charlotte Hastings, Ffion Price, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C), Sophie Norman (Lisa Owen 67’), Danielle Broadhurst, Danielle Green, Phoebie Poole, Catherine Walsh, Zoe Atkins (Jasmine Simpson 70’), Cerys Pinchard
Goals: Pheobie Poole 14’, 36’, 69’
Yellow Cards: Sophie Norman 24’, Danielle Broadhurst 77’
