Cardiff Met claim first Adran Premier win at expense of New Saints

Cardiff Met claimed their first win of the Adran Premier season with a 3-0 win at home against TNS at Cyncoed.

Three errors from TNS led to all three goals, with Ellie Preece getting two and Robyn Pinder claiming one. TNS certainly played well and looked impressive going forward but Met keeper Amelia Forkings played very well to claim a clean sheet.

The results sees Met climb to fourth place, while TNS are in seventh place, but it is still of course very early days.

It was a bright start from both sides with a chance for each coming through Lucie Platt and Robyn Pinder.

Eight minutes in, however, Pinder had her goal. Erin Murray did well to keep the ball under pressure and played it into Pinder, whose shot wriggled under Sarah Parkes and into the bottom corner to put the Archers one up.

Their second goal came five minutes later as Met capitalised on a Saints error. A poor clearance from Parkes went straight onto the head of Pinder, and her header found the run of Ellie Preece who fired her shot past the keeper to double the lead.

TNS did respond well after the goal. Lexie Harrison and Danielle Staley had excellent link up play that caused problems for the Met defence, but the execution in the final third just wasn’t there.

Met however were set well for the counter and looked capable of striving forward at any moment, but for the most part the TNS defence held out well, and they went into the break two down.

Whatever TNS manager Andy Williams said at half time must’ve worked as they came out with a fire in their belly. Straight away Caitlin Chapman got in behind and her powerful effort was saved magnificently well by Amelia Forkings in the Met net.

But yet again, TNS were the victims of their own downfall as Met made it three twelve minutes into the second half. A cross from Elianna Chavez went straight through the hands of substitute keeper Libby Rubin, and Preece was there at the right time to tap the ball home into an empty net, to claim her second of the game.

But the visitors refused to lie down and had chances of their own. Caitlin Chapman had two chances, but on both occasions Forkings was equal to it, producing two fine saves.

Preece had a chance to claim her hat trick thirteen minutes from the end, as she was put clean through on goal. But, to the shock of many in the crowd, she dragged her effort wide of the post.

Pinder went through again ten minutes from time, but Rubin stood up well to the striker and saved well.

Forkings was once again called into action before the end. Harrison did remarkably well to steal the ball from Amy Long before driving into the box, but Forkings got down well to push her shot away.

Met weren’t done with their chances yet. A good move from back to front ended with the ball being played to the feet of Evie Griffiths on the edge of the box, but her shot cannoned off the bar.

But 3-0 is how it finished, and Met claimed their first victory of the season, while TNS remain winless.

The Archers will make the short trip up the road to face Pontypridd United next, while TNS will welcome Aberystwyth to Park Hall.

Player of the Match: Robyn Pinder       

Special mentions to Lexie Harrison, Ellie Preece and Amelia Forkings for their performances today, but Pinder was superb. She led the line well and her movement was excellent, but what stood out to me was her communication skills. Telling players where to be and encouraging them on every attack. She was a real leader today.

Cardiff Met

Amelia Forkings (GK), Amy Long, Grace Corne, Tija Richardson, Steph Turner (C), Sophie Hancocks, Ellie Preece (Kennesha Nanette, 88’), Jess Westhoff (Emily Allen, 52’), Erin Murray (Evie Griffiths, 74’), Robyn Pinder, Elianna Chavez

Unused Subs: Zakhari Turner (GK), Millie Everest

Goals: Robyn Pinder (8’), Ellie Preece (13’, 57’)

TNS

Sarah Parkes (GK) (Libby Rubin, 34’), Beth Lewis (C), Jen Jarvie (Nicole Samson, 50’), Lexie Harrison, Danielle Staley, Lucie Platt, Tia Lockley, Caitlin Chapman, Helen Evans (Lily Whitefoot, 85’), Isobel Redding, Lia Lewis