Cardiff City 2-1 Aberystwyth Town: Walsh and Poole secure win for Bluebirds
CARDIFF, WALES - 25 MARCH, 2021: Pheobie Poole of Cardiff City celebrates scoring her opening goal Cardiff City v Cardiff Met in the Orchard Welsh Premier Women's League on the 25th March 2021 at Leckwith Stadium, Cardiff, Wales. (Pic by Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
Cardiff City opened up Phase Two of the Adran Premier with a 2-1 win over Aberystwyth Town. Iain Darbyshire’s side survived a late scare as Aberystwyth pulled a goal back.
Catherine Walsh netted her 10th of the season after 17 minutes as Cardiff took control. Phoebie Poole came off the bench to make it two with four minutes remaining. Poole getting her 11th league goal of the season as she leads the goal scoring charts. Libby Isaac pulled a goal back in the second minute added time as the visitors tried to mount a comeback.
Cardiff City remain in third place on 33 points, seven behind Cardiff Met in second place. For Gavin Allen’s side its a defeat to begin phase two and they remain in fourth.
The game at a quick pace and both side had early chances. Carys Davies tired from distance for Aberystwyth, her shot going straight to Cerys Chamberlain.
Amy Williams made a run down the left and then cut inside the box, flashing a shot across goal.
Kelsey Thomas sent a good ball down the right sending Flavia Jenkins clear. Jenkins took aim at goal forcing a decent stop from Chamberlain.
The quick start continued with Ffion Price sending a corner into the box that Ffion Ashman punched away. Picking the lose ball up Price then sent a cross into the box which Zoe Atkins headed just wide.
Cardiff started to seize control of the game and got the opening goal. With the ball bouncing around the box Catherine Walsh hit a powerful volley to give the Bluebirds the lead.
Elin Jones almost turned the ball into her own net as she mis-kicked trying to clear Price’s corner. Keeper Ashman was alert to catch the ball and stop a possible own goal.
Ffion Price was a constant threat from the left whipping a cross in that Amy Williams headed wide. Price also tried her luck from a free kick hitting the wall.
Cardiff started the second as the first had ended pushing their visitors back and applying pressure. Price finding Catherine Walsh from her free kick. Walsh hit a shot from the edge of the box that needed a save from Ashman.
From another Cardiff Free kick Ffion Price went for goal again. Getting the ball over the wall and down towards the corner, Ashman had to be sharp to get across goal to save.
Ashman was at it again soon after as Phoebie Poole hit a shot on the turn that needed a diving save from the Aber keeper.
Price set Poole clear with a clear pass and Poole hit a low shot that Ashman saved with her leg to deny the Bluebirds again.
Aber then came back into the game with Libby Isaac breaking though. Isaac hit a sot that went close but narrowly just wide. Then Kelsey Thomas hit a sot that Chamberlain had to out out for a corner.
Just as the visitors were looking like they were going to level Cardiff got their second goal. Poole picking the ball up from Catherine Walsh she went past one firing a low shot into the bottom corner.
In added time Libby Isaac pulled one back with a crisp low shot that went in off the post. With a couple of minutes to play Aber tried to create another opening but were unable to get a second goal.
Full Time: Cardiff City 2-1 Aberystwyth Town.
Cardiff City: Ceryn Chamberlain (G), Lisa Owen (Summer Bowen-Quirk 90), Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C), Ffion Price, Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst, Catherine Walsh, Lily Billingham (Phoebie Poole 64), Amy Williams, Zoe Atkins (Eliza Collie 83).
Goals: Catherine Walsh 16, Phoebie Poole 86.
Yellow Cards: Eliza Collie 90+4, Amy Williams 90+5.
Aberystwyth Town: Ffion Ashman (G), Lucie Gwilt (Libby Isaac 61), Rebecca Mathias, Elin Jones , Kelly Thomas (C), Caroline Cooper (Hannah Pusey 63), Emily Thomas, Ffiona Evans, Flavia Jenkins, Carys Davies, Kelsey Thomas (Amy Jenkins 80).
Goals: Libby Isaac 90+2
Yellow Cards: Lucie Gwilt 54, Carys Davies 61, Kelsey Thomas 80.
