Cardiff City were in full gear to rout a depleted Port Talbot 8-2 in the Adran Premier at Leckwith Stadium.
Six of Cardiff’s goals came all in the first-half with Catherine Walsh scoring a brace, as well as goals from Phoebie Poole, Danielle Green and defenders Ffion Price and Lisa Owen.
Amy Williams then added a seventh goal for Iain Darbyshire’s side in between two consolation goals from Kirsty O’Donnell and Freya Davies, Walsh added her third in the last kick of the match.
The Bluebirds move up to second, displacing former leaders Cardiff Met, who were comfortably beaten by Swansea City, whilst Port Talbot drop to seventh.
The home side opened the scoring in a fortuitous fashion with Catherine Walsh getting the final touch. A corner-kick from Ffion Price was whipped in and the forward stretched out her leg with Emily Roberts fumbling.
Shortly after, Walsh and her attacking partner Poole both had glorious chances to increase Cardiff’s lead. Poole rose highest to head down but was denied superbly by Roberts before Walsh missed a gilt-edged opportunity.
This was a period in which City were relentless in their attacks, with Green often the instigator. She had a shot that skimmed past the post before her pass agonisingly missed her teammates.
For all of Cardiff’s hard work, they didn’t have to do much to find the net for a second time, with the returning Poole on target to add to her five goals for Wales under-19s last week. A defensive mix-up from a Port Talbot throw-in was punished by the young forward, who outmuscled Chelsey Harris before lashing home at the near post.
City’s first two goals were well taken, but their third was a thing of pure beauty. Set-piece specialist Price, from 25-yards out, looped her shot over Roberts to earn a deserved applause.
It went from bad to worse for Port Talbot as they fell further behind, again from a free kick. A handball presented Walsh with the chance to score her second, and she powered a low, driven attempt past Roberts.
Port Talbot continued to come under attack from Cardiff and the youthful Roberts had to be alert to deny Poole after another mix-up at the back.
Another goal was to come for Cardiff with defender Lisa Owen getting in on the action. The defender advanced up the pitch and weaved past her opponents to then slot home.
This was a performance from the highest-quality and City added another goal of the season contender before the half-time whistle. Green, deserving of a goal, curled a shot home from 25-yards out.
At the break, both Poole and Saunders were withdrawn for Amy Williams and Lily Billingham, with the latter recently on Under-17s duty for Wales.
There was some joy for Port Talbot to celebrate as they pulled back a consolation goal. In an afternoon of fine goals, Kirsty O’Donnell on the edge of the box curled her shot over the rooted Zara Mujica.
For all their improvement in the second period, Port Talbot could not stop leaking a further goal. After neat footwork from Billingham, she found her fellow sub-Williams who snuck home a low shot past Roberts.
Undettered by shipping another, Hitesh Patel’s side added another goal to limitate the damage to their goal difference. Davies ran through at goal and tucked her shot past the goalkeeper.
In the last action of the game, there was a deserved hat-trick for Walsh. A cross from the far side was met by the striker, who finished with a well-guided header.
Cardiff City: Zara Mujica, Lisa Owen, Ffion Price, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C), (Seren Watkins, 55), Phoebie Poole (Amy Williams, 46), Catherine Walsh, Danielle Broadhurst, Danielle Green, Megan Saunders (Lily Billingham, 46), Zoe Atkins.
Unused substitutes: Ceryn Chamberlain, Emily Bayliss.
Goals: Catherine Walsh 7, 29, Phoebie Poole 17, Ffion Price 25, Lisa Owen 36, Danielle Green 45, Amy Williams 78, 90+3
Port Talbot Town: Emily Roberts, Becca Rees, Terri Beddows, Chelsey Harris, Kirsty O’Donnell, Courteney Thomas, Lauren Amor, Jess Denscombe, Freya Davies, Maisy Fahey-Pennell, Caitlin Owen (Megan Chambers 64)
Yellow Cards: Courteney Thomas 53′
Goals: Kirsty O’Donnell 62, Freya Davies 85′
Unused substitutes: Ffion Furse.
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