Genero Adran Leagues roundup: Matchday 3

With the first matches in the Adran Trophy taking place this weekend, the Adran Premier took centre stage.

There was certainly a theme to this week’s action, and that was goals. This has certainly been an entertaining matchday in the Adran Premier

Adran Premier

We begin with the highly anticipated South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City. With an exciting attacking squad in Cardiff against a defensively sound Swansea, the fans who gathered in Leckwith were in for a treat, and they were sent home happy as the Bluebirds prevailed 2-0.

Both goals came in the first half, and both came courtesy of Phoebie Poole. Her first was a lovely, cushioned header after a fantastic delivery on the wing from Ffion Price. Her second came through a Claire Skinner error, as the Swansea keeper fumbled a Danielle Green shot straight into Poole’s path. The Swans did hit the bar twice in the second half, but in all honesty, they were clearly second best in this game. For Cardiff however, this was a statement victory.

Next, we head to the valleys, as Pontypridd United and Cardiff Met produced a seven-goal thriller, with the Archers winning 4-3. The game looked all but done in the first half as Met raced into a 3-0 lead at the break. An Erin Murray penalty along with a goal each for Ellie Preece and Robyn Pinder seemed to put the game beyond doubt.

Emily Allena and Erin Murray celebrate in Cardiff City 0-1 Cardiff Met in the Adran Trophy final at Dragon Park on the 27th March 2022. Credit: Carl Robertson/Cardiff Met Sport

This Ponty team though is made of stern stuff, and they rallied back in the second half. Shannon Greenway fired in on the hour mark, before Liv Francis got a second thirteen minutes from time, and the comeback was well and truly on. Met breathed a sigh of relief however when they were rewarded another penalty in the 83rd minute which Murray converted to put a dampener on a rampant Pontypridd team. Kirstie Pervin-Davies did get a consolation goal for the hosts in stoppage time, but 4-3 is how it finished, and it sees Met move to second in the table.

Sitting in third place in the league is Barry Town United, as they defeated Abergavenny Town 3-2 away from home. It was a quiet first half, with Mackenzie Olden’s goal the only thing separating the two sides as they headed into the break, but the game certainly livened up in the second half. A Hana Bennett goal in the 66th minute made you believe Barry would run away with this one.

But, in Josh Anderson’s first game as the Pennies’ new manager, the team rallied back and got themselves on level terms, thanks to two goals from a debuting Alana Murphy. But, in this league difference makers are the key and my word do Barry have one in Olden. Currently the league’s top scorer, she bagged the winning goal a minute from time, to send her team and the travelling support into delirium. Abergavenny, unfortunately, remain bottom of the table with no points.

BARRY, WALES – 12 SEPTEMBER 2021: Mackenzie Olden of Barry Town Ladies scores her side’s sixth goal during the in the Genero Adran Premier fixture between Barry Town Ladies and The New Saints FC Ladies at Jenner Park Stadium, Barry, Wales. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)

The final game takes us to North Wales, as TNS recorded their first victory of the season, as they triumphed 3-0 over Aberystwyth Town. The Saints have shown signs in their opening games that their attacking style can cause teams problems, and it certainly came to fruition in this game. On the brink of half time Danielle Staley got the first, and momentum was well and truly on their side from then on.

Chantelle Teare scored her first of the season two minutes after the break as TNS turned the screw, before Staley got her second of the game 20 minutes before the end. The result sees TNS climb to sixth in the table. The Seasiders drop down to seventh, but I’m sure last season’s fourth placed side will find their mojo soon.

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