Cardiff City’s season up-and-running as Broadhurst and Poole on target

Goals from Danielle Broadhurst and Phoebie Poole saw Cardiff City claim their first points of the Adran Prem season with a 2-0 win over Pontypridd United.

The Bluebirds dominated the first half and got a deserved goal through Broadhurst, but Ponty fought back incredibly well in the second half and could easily have scored a goal or two. But Poole’s goal 20 minutes from time secured the victory for the Bluebirds.

City started the game well, as many expected. Their first chance came two minutes in. Ffion Price’s corner dropped straight into the six-yard box, but the ball evaded the feet of two or three Cardiff attackers, and it went out for a goal kick.

Ponty did send a warning call however on the 13-minute mark. From a Cardiff corner they broke up the field with speed, with Clare Daley being the furthest forward. To the relief of Bluebirds fans, Hannah Power came back superbly to break up the promising move.

City responded a minute later. Rhianne Oakley drove up the wing and her cross found Zoe Atkins in the middle, but she couldn’t convert from close range.

City did break the deadlock however in the 24^th minute. Another marauding run down the wing from Oakley found Atkins at the back stick. The forward had the intelligence to head it back into the middle of the goal to find an oncoming Danielle Broadhurst, who turned it in from close range to put City ahead

The hosts had chances to double their lead and Atkins must’ve been thinking if she was ever going to score during this game. Firstly, Ponty failed to clear a corner and an onrushing Maisie Jones failed to collect a cross, but Atkins’ header somehow floated over the bar from close range.

She had another chance five minutes later. Oakley’s cross found her, but Shannon Greenway put in a fantastic block to thwart the forward and to make sure the deficit remained at one heading into the break.

At half time Ponty made three subs, and they certainly changed the mentality of the team. There was more of an attacking intent to them. The fact that they were so much higher up the field than they were in the first half will certainly please interim manager James Fishlock.

And the intent almost paid off in the 65^th minute as Ponty appealed for a penalty. Olivia Francis broke down the right and squared it back to Jasmine Turner, whose shot looked like it came off the arm of Siobhan Walsh. The referee looked like he was going to blow his whistle for a penalty, but decided against it, to the frustration of the Ponty bench.

The Dragons went even closer four minutes later. A corner from Turner dropped late and struck the post before it was frantically cleared away by the Bluebirds.

But this City team is made of stern stuff, as they weathered the storm and doubled their lead 20 minutes from time. Hollie Smith won the ball well in midfield before threading a perfectly timed through ball into Phoebie Poole. The sub took her time and calmly slotted the ball beyond Jones.

The visitors didn’t lie down and accept defeat and still went on the attack. Francis made space for herself on the edge of the box, and her curling effort looked destined for the top corner. Ceryn Chamberlain had other ideas, and the City keeper sprung into action to produce a fine save.

Chamberlain was called into action again and made a remarkable double save. She tipped Turner’s free kick onto the bar, and when Alison Witts tried to header in the rebound, but she was there again to make the save and preserve the clean sheet.

Next up for the Bluebirds is a trip to Cyncoed to face Cardiff Met, while Ponty face TNS at home.

Player of the Match: Rhianne Oakley

Honourable mention to Jasmine Turner who was superb in the second half for Ponty, but Oakley was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch today. Her wing play was excellent, and she gives this Cardiff team a different dimension to the one they had last season

Cardiff City: Ceryn Chamberlain (GK), Ffion Price, Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh ©, Rhianne Oakley (Meg Saunders, 74’), Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst, Danielle Green, Hollie Smith (Meg Bowen, 90’), Lily Billingham (Michaela Major, 74’), Zoe Atkins (Phoebie Poole, 63’)

Unused Subs: Emily Roberts (GK), Meg Bowen

Goals: Danielle Broadhurst (24’), Phoebie Poole (70’)

Yellow Cards: Danielle Broadhurst (90’)

Pontypridd United: Maisie Jones (GK), Clare Daley, Holly Broad ©, Ellie Gunney, Anais Trinci (Olivia Francis, 46’), Alison Witts, Efa Preece-Jones (Carys Bufton, 46’), Emily Bayliss (Brooke Evans, 58’), Shannon Greenway, Olivia Barnett (Kirstie Pervin-Davies, 46’), Jasmine Turner

Unused Sub: Jess Osborne

(Pic By John Smith/FAW)