Cardiff Met 0-2 Cardiff City: Billingham and Watkins inspire Women’s Cup success

Cardiff City claimed their first domestic honour in six years as their youthful side won the Women’s Cup, denying Cardiff Met a double.

First-ever goals for the Bluebirds from 18-year-old Seren Watkins and Lily Billingham, who is two years younger, was enough to claim the trophy they had won back in 2016.

The Bluebirds certainly had more chances and possession in the first half. Lily Billingham had the first chance five minutes in. Her looping effort almost catching out Met keeper Charlotte Smith, but the keeper did well to claw her effort away from danger.

Then Phoebie Poole had a flurry of chances to put her side ahead. She firstly dragged an effort wide of the back post after a great through ball by Billingham. She then latched onto another great ball by Meg Saunders to be one-on-one with Smith, but she could only fire her effort well over the bar.

Met’s best opportunity came five minutes before the end of the half. A devilish cross by Elianna Chavez looked destined to find Emily Allen at the far post, but City’s captain Siobhan Walsh did well to clear it behind for a corner, in a half where Met hardly created anything noteworthy.

Iain Darbyshire would’ve been really pleased with how his side played for the first 45 minutes, and they picked up where they left off at the start of the second half. Ffion Price’s wonderful effort looked destined for the top corner, but instead it cannoned back off the bar.

• FAW Women’s Cup – Fixtures & Results – 2021/22 season

However, in the 58^th minute, the deadlock was broken. A loose pass form Poole was gathered up by Seren Watkins, and she wondered unchallenged to the edge of the area before produces a low driving effort into the bottom corner, to score her first goal for the club.

Met had their best chance to equalise a few minutes later. Substitute Shannon Evans picked up the ball on the edge of the box, before cutting inside, but like Price, her effort fired back off the bar.

But Met still didn’t create anything after that, instead City pushed on for a second goal. Poole must’ve been thinking that the goals were cursed against her as she struck the bar again ten minutes from the end.

Instead, youngster Billingham sealed the victory for City. Danielle Green made a good run from the wing, and her blocked shot fell to Billingham, who looped her effort over Smith to send City players, management, and staff into ecstasy.

And City held on to claim a brilliant victory and finally break their hoodoo against Met.

Player of the Match: Lily Billingham

To be honest every City player could’ve had this award, but Billingham was superb. She influenced so much of the game, getting to every second ball, playing great through balls to her teammates, and topping it off with an incredible goal. She is a real star for the future.

Cardiff Met: Charlotte Smith (GK), Jessie Taylor, Lucy Finch, Tija Richardson, Steph Turner (C), Sophie Hancocks, Emily Allen, Laura-May Walkley, Erin Murray (Shannon Evans, 63’), Lauren Hutton Townsend (Emily Richards, 70’), Elianna Chavez

Unused Subs: Jess Rees (GK), Amy Long, Hannah Mills

Cardiff City: Ceryn Chamberlain (GK), Ffion Price, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C), Phoebie Poole (Eliza Collie, 90’), Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst, Amy Williams (Zoe Atkins, 73’), Meg Saunders (Danielle Green, 64’), Hollie Smith, Lily Billingham

Unused Subs: Amelia Forkings (GK), Emily Bayliss

Goals: Seren Watkins (59’), Lily Billingham (85’)

Yellow Cards: Danielle Broadhurst (51’)

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)