Cardiff City ran out as 1-0 victors at home to Aberystwyth Town to remain unbeaten and top of the Adran Premier.
Rhianne Oakley’s first-half goal was enough to separate the teams, but Cardiff had to work for their win, as Aberystwyth’s defence was difficult to break down, in what was a determined performance from the Seasiders.
There’s no change to either team’s positions in the table. The Bluebirds remain top, while Aberystwyth stay in seventh.
Looking at where both sides sat in the table before this game, and given the recent run of results, you’d be forgiven for thinking Aber were in for a tough afternoon.
However, their gameplan of sitting back in a definitive shape thwarted the home side for large parts of the first half.
We’ve been used to the Bluebirds creating chances at will, but they struggled to impose themselves on this Aber team.
It would need something clever from Cardiff to find the opening, and they got it midway through the first half.
Siobhan Walsh’s excellent vision found the run of Rhianne Oakley, and the winger breezed her way past the defenders and calmly slotted her effort past an on-rushing Elen Valentine to put City ahead.
Chances then began to flow for City. Danielle Green missed from close range, Oakley dragged an effort narrowly wide, and Zoe Atkins hit the bar, but they couldn’t find a way through.
While the score line isn’t what Aber would’ve wanted, the team, manager Gavin Allen and a vocal travelling support could be optimistic heading in the second half.
Danielle Broadhurst must’ve felt at times in the second half that she was never going to score. She had a flurry of chances; one hit the bar, one was saved magnificently by Valentine, two were blocked expertly by Elin Jones, nothing was working for her.
Whatever Cardiff threw at Aber they were equal to it, and the Seasiders pushed themselves up the field at times during the half, but no chances came from it.
Substitute Phoebie Poole had a good opportunity to double the lead nine minutes from time, but she couldn’t convert from close range.
But 1-0 is how it finished. City will be happy with the point, but Aber can take a lot from this defeat.
Next weekend will see Cardiff City welcome TNS down to Leckwith, while Aberystwyth will travel to face Swansea City.
Player of the Match: Rhianne Oakley
Elin Jones has to be mentioned. An absolute masterclass in how to block and make last ditched tackles from her today, but simply City don’t win this match without Oakley. Her pace is frightening, and she can change the way the game swings in an instant. They couldn’t contain her today down the wing.
Cardiff City
Ceryn Chamberlain (GK), Ffion Price, Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh ©, Rhianne Oakley, Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst, Danielle Green, Meg Bowen, Meg Saunders (Phoebie Poole, 69’), Zoe Atkins
Unused Subs: Emily Roberts (GK), Evie Hughes, Hollie Smith, Michaela Major
Goals: Rhianne Oakley (23’)
Aberystwyth Town
Elen Valentine (GK), Lucie Gwilt, Rebecca Mathias, Beth Roberts (Tania Wylde, 69’), Elin Jones, Kelly Thomas ©, Shauna Chambers, Ffiona Evans, Gwenllian Jones (Carys Davies, 54’), Hannah Pusey (Libby Isaac, 54’)
Unused Sub: Amy Jenkins
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