With the season gearing towards it’s Christmas break, all teams across the top three divisions wanted to put themselves in the best possible position going into the festive period.
It was a fascinating matchday in the Adran Premier, with every team playing the side either directly above or below them. In the North and the South, there were results with consequences at both ends of the table.
Adran Premier
We start our roundup at the Swansea.com Stadium. Whenever we get a clash between two titans of Welsh football like Swansea City and Cardiff City, there is always an air of anticipation, but also a sense of unknowing, never too sure of how a game between them will pan out, especially with how rampant the Bluebirds have been this season. In what was a physical and intense game, it ended 1-1.
After a quiet first half, Katy Hosford bought her team, and the 1,376 strong crowd, to life, with a pinpoint finish into the far corner, after a lofted ball through by Stacey John-Davies. In truth, this was a game that the Swans dominated, and it was easy to see. This was the first time all season that Cardiff had been behind, and they certainly looked shell shocked.
In difficult times, you need your best players to produce a moment of magic. Step up Phoebie Poole. On the edge of the area, the forward executed a sumptuous curling effort into the far corner, Claire Skinner could only fall into the back of her own net trying to scramble it away. While both teams seemed happy with a point after the game, that certainly wasn’t their aim going into it. Cardiff stay top, while Swansea remain second, five points behind.
The draw down in Swansea opened the door for Cardiff Met to close the gap on the top two. However, they faced a tricky challenge against a Pontypridd United side, who were banging on the door of the top three, eager to get themselves in.
It was a game of fine margins, and managing those margins the best were the Archers, who sealed a 1-0 win over the Dragons. Met dominated the early stages of the game. Eleanor Brook producing a marvellous save to thwart Erin Murray. But Murray wasn’t to be denied again, as she broke the deadlock, smashing the ball home after good work from Elianna Chavez.
Ponty fought back well in the second half. Chances fell to Alison Witts and Jasmine Turner, but the ball couldn’t be forced home. Met saw out the game professionally as the visitors pushed for an equaliser. Met are now two points behind Swansea in second, Ponty stay fourth.
The defeat for Ponty opened up the possibility for the chasing pack to close the gap on them. Two of those sides met at Park Avenue. Aberystwyth Town had gotten themselves firmly back into the race for fourth after a good run of form, but their opponents, TNS, were in pole position to challenge. In what was an incredible game of football, the game ended 3-3.
While the first half was a quiet one, the one thing that has been striking about the Saints this season has been their dazzling attacking talents, and that was on show again. Caitlin Chapman putting the visitors ahead with a deflected effort. Lucie Platt then doubled the lead, after being in the right place at the right time to sneak the ball in at the far post. After half time, TNS continued their rampant form in front of goal and found their third. Chapman getting her second after a fantastic bit of trickery from Chantelle Teare to set her up.
This Aber team, however, is a tenacious side, and when they need to dig and find some spirit, they certainly do that. Three minutes after Chapman’s second, Elin Jones rose highest from a corner and powered her header past Sarah Parkes. Aber’s second quickly followed. Gwenllian Jones bundling the ball home, before racing back to the halfway line. They could sense their own Istanbul moment could be happening. The Seasiders pushed and pushed for their illusive third, and just when it looked like it wasn’t coming, the miracle happened. Tania Wylde with an effort from 20-yards, sending Aber players, coaches, and fans into ecstasy. A tremendous game.
The bottom two met in the final game of the day at Jenner Park. Abergavenny have had a torrid time in the league this season; played ten and lost ten. Their opponents, Barry Town United, also hadn’t enjoyed their best run in the league recently. Therefore, it was difficult to predict what would happen, but the fans who went who treated to a spectacle, as they drew 3-3.
There is no doubting who has been the star player for the Pennies so far this season, and that’s Alana Murphy. So, there was no surprise that she had put them in front with a well-timed effort from outside the box. This was the first time Abergavenny had a lead going into the half time break.
Barry responded well at the start of the second half. Mackenzie Olden grabbing her eighth goal of the season, robbing possession on the edge of the box before squeezing her shot underneath the keeper. Three minutes later Town were ahead, Taite Trivett rising highest from a corner. But before Barry could finish celebrating, Abergavenny drew themselves level. Ellis Lunn finishing after a good ball through by Murphy.
With the game finely poised, it was anyone’s for the taking, and it was the home side who fired themselves ahead. Barry captain Lauren Harris with a mesmeric shot from 35-yards out. The Linnets looked like they’d see the game out, that was until Murphy, the woman of the hour, fired low and hard from outside the box and the ball nestled in the bottom corner. Barry still in with a chance of fourth spot, Abergavenny are finally off the mark.
Adran North
If the current Adran North leaders were to be challenged, a win for either Connah’s Quay or Llandudno was important, as they met at the Deeside Stadium. However, there was disappointment for both, as they could only manage to play out a 1-1 draw.
Ella Harvey nodded in from a corner to put the Nomads ahead in the first half, but Llandudno hit back with 15 minutes to go, Maddie Williams with a cool finish to make sure they left with a point.
While the Nomads stay second and Dudno in third, they will know that this was a missed opportunity.
This meant a win for leaders Wrexham over winless Airbus would open up a nice five-point gap at the top of the table.
For large periods of the game, the Wingmakers’ defence stood firm and denied the Red Dragons. Rosie Hughes, however, was not going to let her side leave with a point, and she made the difference in the second half with two goals to seal a 2-0 win.
Her first a composed finish into the bottom corner, her second a majestic volley that flew past Ceri Evans. Wrexham march on, Airbus fall to the foot of the table.
Llanfair United got their first point of the season, with a battling 2-2 draw away to Y Felinheli.
It was a fast start to the game. Fflur Williams putting Y Felinheli ahead after ten minutes, but five minutes later Llanfair drew level with a goal through Harriet Davies.
Williams got the home side in front again after the half hour mark, but Llanfair battled hard and were rewarded with a goal ten minutes from time, Davies with her second. Llanfair will be hoping this result can boost their season.
Adran South
There was only one game in the Adran South this weekend and it was down at Old Road. With four of the five sides in the league tied on six points, the game between Briton Ferry and Swansea University was always going to be a crucial one, and it was the Ferry who ran out as 6-0 victors.
Megan Kearle starred in this one, getting her first after 24 minutes with a rocket of a finish. Fleur Jenkins doubled the lead three minutes later, before Kearle grabbed her second. There was still time in the first half for Lowri Baker to get on the scoresheet with a tidy finish into the bottom corner.
Ferry picked up where they left off in the first half as Kearle sealed a well-earned hat-trick, before Baker finished the rout to make it six. Briton Ferry now three clear at the top, Swansea University stay in fourth.
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