A Rhianne Oakley hat trick was the centrepiece as Cardiff City trounced Pontypridd United 5-0 in the third round of the FAW Cup.
Siobhan Walsh got proceedings going seven minutes in, before Oakley scored once in the first half and twice in the second to seal her hat trick. Phoebie Poole scored two minutes from time to make it five.
Pontypridd manager James Fishlock got himself sent off in the second half to make matters worse for the visitors, who simply ran into a team in top form today.
The game plan from both sides was evident in the early stages of the game, attack. We have been used to City attacking any opposition they face, while Ponty were not afraid to take on and match the current cup holders.
It was the Bluebirds who opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Seren Watkins looped in a corner towards the far post, and there was captain Siobhan Walsh, who rose the highest in a congested area, to head it powerfully past Maisie Jones.
After the goal, Ponty didn’t look shell shocked, and they continued their attacking plan. Alison Witts with some good hold up play allowed Kirstie Pervin-Davies to cross it into Carys Bufton, but she couldn’t keep her header down.
But this City team are unforgiving, and they continued to press. Wing backs Ffion Price and Danielle Green in particular were having great success putting crosses in, but the Dragons defence held out well.
That was until the 28th minute when a good pass was their undoing. After a good advantage from the referee, Phoebie Poole slid in a ball to Rhianne Oakley, who had timed her run perfectly to stay onside. She streaked away from the Ponty defence before powering her effort past Jones to double the lead.
The Bluebirds continued to pepper the Ponty box with cross after cross, but no one could get on the end of them. But, fortunately for them, Ponty rarely got out of their area after the second goal.
If Ponty were to get anything out of this game then they needed to stop City’s quicker players, but even though they tried, it looked like nothing could stop Oakley.
With all the crosses Cardiff were putting in, they were bound to score one eventually, and it came after the hour mark. Green swung one in, and Oakley side footed her effort past Jones.
Her hat trick was completed a minute later. A long ball from Walsh found Oakley, who stormed up the wing, before cutting inside, taking her time, and rifling the ball past Jones, who could’ve done better to stop her effort.
The last thing Ponty needed was to lose their composure, but unfortunately for them, manager James Fishlock was shown a red card for remonstrating with the referee.
A bright day for City was quickly dealt a dark mark, when Meg Saunders, who was on the pitch for less than a minute, suffered a horrendous injury, one which she had to be stretchered off for. We wish her the speediest of recoveries.
The Bluebirds could have had a fifth, but sub Elize Collie couldn’t keep down her volley from a Price cross.
You could sense another goal was coming, and it came two minutes from time. Who else but the dynamic duo to link up for the goal. Price’s corner found Poole, and the forward headed it down into the ground and into the net.
And 5-0 is how it finished and City march into the next round.
Player of the Match: Rhianne Oakley
Shoutouts to Siobhan Walsh, Danielle Green, and Ffion Price, but we talk about transformative signings, and my goodness Oakley is just that. The new dynamic that she has given this team is insane and if the stays fit, this Cardiff team are going to do special things
Cardiff City
Emily Roberts (GK), Ffion Price, Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh (C), Rhianne Oakley (Meg Saunders, 67’, Meg Bowen, 70’), Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst (Eliza Collie, 67’), Danielle Green, Phoebie Poole, Hollie Smith, Zoe Atkins (Lily Billingham, 46’)
Unused Sub: Ceryn Chamberlain (GK)
Goals: Siobhan Walsh (7’), Rhianne Oakley (28’, 61’, 62’), Phoebie Poole (88’)
Pontypridd United
Maisie Jones (GK), Shannon Greenway, Jess Osborne (Efa Preece-Jones, 46’), Holly Broad (C), Emily Bayliss, Renee Day (Anais Trinci, 46’), Ellie Gunney (Paige Ward, 71’), Kirstie Pervin-Davies (Brooke Evans, 73’), Alison Witts (Millie Jones, 58’), Carys Bufton, Jasmine Turner
Yellow Cards: Renee Day (16’), Jess Osborne (31’)
Red Cards: James Fishlock (66’)
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