Pontypridd Town 1-4 Cardiff Met – Bullseye as Archers reach Final

Cardiff Met booked their place in the FAW Welsh Women’s Cup final with 4-1 win over Pontypridd Town. Met had to come from a goal down after an early opening goal from The Dragons.

Alana Murphy opened the scoring after just six minutes giving Pontypridd the lead. After extended pressure from Met Laura-May Walkley levelled the game on 31 minutes. The game remained all square until the 63′ minute when Shannon Evans put Met ahead just after coming off the bench. Evans grabbed a second goal after 74 minutes to extend the lead. Lucy Finch added a fourth with four minutes left.

Cardiff Met will go into the final where they will face Cardiff City in an all Cardiff Final. Cardiff City beating Swansea 4-3 in the other semi Final.

The game began with Cardiff met controlling the ball and passing it around as they looked to push Pontypridd back. Pontypridd were looking to hit Met on the counter attack using Alana Murphy to run behind the defence.

It was from a quick break that Pontypridd got the games first goal. Working the ball out to the right Robyn Pinder put in a inch perfect cross for Murphy. With a deft touch Murphy put the past Charlotte Evans.

Met went in search of an equaliser and pushed Pontypridd deep into their half. Jessie Taylor putting in the ball from the right trying to gave Elianna Chavez an opportunity to score. But Chavez was unable to control the ball.

Pontypridd were holding out the Met Attacks and looking dangerous from counter attacks. Playing the ball over the top from Murphy to chase, Murphy collided with Met keeper Charlotte Smith. Smith was hurt in the clash and had to be replaced by Annabel Sweeney.

The Archers kept cranking up the pressure and Sophie Hancocks went close. Trying from outside the box she saw her shot hit the bar.

Soon the pressure told as Laura-May Walkley found the net. Latching on to lose ball as Pontypridd tried to clear, Walkley lobbed Maisie Jones from 25 yards with a stunning effort.

Emily Allen had the chance to send Met in ahead at the break. Cutting in to the box she hit a low shot that was saved by Jones.

Half Time: Pontypridd Town 1-1 Cardiff Met

Cardiff Met began the second half as they had finished the first putting pressure on Pontypridd. From a Sophie Hancocks corner, Jones punched away but Met sent the ball back into the box. Ponty only cleared back to Hancocks who hit a shot over.

Emily Richards sent a free kick over the bar as Met looked to take the lead. Soon after Elianna Chavez forced Jones into a good save.

Soon the pressure told as Shannon Evans put Cardiff Met ahead. Evans with a volley into the corner form Hancocks corner.

Evans soon extended her sides lead as she headed into the bottom corner from Hancocks cross.

Pontypridd tried to find a way back into the game but were unable to create any chances that troubled Sweeney in goal.

As the game drew to a close Lucy Finch put the icing on the cake for Met with a stunning fourth goal. Picking the ball up on the left Finch went past three Ponty players and launched a shot over Jones from distance.

Full Time: Pontypridd Town 1-4 Cardiff Met.

Pontypridd Town: Maisie Jones (G), Clare Daley-Smith, Holly Broad (C), Alana Murphy, Renee Day (Efa Preece-Jones 80), Robyn Pinder (Millie Jones 75), Alison Witts, Anais Trinci, Olivia Barnett (Ellie Gunney 46), Carys Bufton, Shannon Greenway.

Goals: Alana Murphy 6.

Cardiff Met: Charlotte Smith (G) (Annabel Sweeney 21), Hannah Mills (Shannon Evans 65), Lucy Finch, Tija Richardson, Steph Turner (C), Sophie Hancocks, Jessie Taylor, Laura-May Walkley, Emily Allen, Emily Richards (Laura Hutton-Townsend 72), Elianna Chavez

Goals: Laura-May Walkley 31, Shannon Evans 65, 74, Lucy Finch 86.

Yellow Cards: Emily Allen 19.

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)