Substitute Megan Saunders’ late goal continued Cardiff City’s winning record as they beat Barry Town in torrential conditions at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
After coming on the 77th minute, Saunders’ goal came from close range when a ricocheted ball in the box allowed her to poke home past the keeper to secure a 1-0 win and her first league goal this season at a crucial moment.
The match was close to abandonment with a pitch inspection required to allow the game to go ahead. The pitch was deemed playable as it wasn’t frozen however the heavy rain during play left standing water on the pitch which worsened throughout the second half.
The pitch conditions allowed neither team to gain momentum, it being difficult to complete simple passes even. It was a stubborn battle from the Linnets although ultimately it was the Bluebirds who earned a deserved three points.
Entering the Christmas break, City have taken an eight-point lead at the top of the table despite being a game ahead of their nearest competitors, Swansea City, who have a backlog of fixtures to complete. As for Barry Town, just one point in their last five matches leaves them in seventh despite being just four points off Pontypridd in fourth.
It was Cardiff who had a spree of attacks in the early stages, Phoebie Poole failed to add to her season tally of goals, squandering a one-on-one opportunity on the six and 31 minute marks.
Rhianne Oakley caused trouble for the Town defence, switching flanks, her pace and dangerous crossing and goalscoring threat she was unable to find a target on the end of her crosses with some tight defending from the visitors.
After conditions worsened in the second half, there was a lack of chances for the majority of the half. Concerns of safety arose when City captain Shiobhan Walsh slid for approximately five metres across the soaking surface after successfully completing a tackle.
Danielle Broadhurst had a great chance to break the deadlock with a quarter of an hour to go, a backpass that stopped dead meant Erin Brennan rushing out was a rare error in a crucial performance from her; Broadhurst rounded Brennan before sending an effort into the side netting.
Saunders goal late on was enough to clinch the result leaving Barry with nothing left in the tank to fight back in the dying minutes.
Cardiff City: Chamberlin, Price, Power, Walsh ©, Norman (Billingham 58’), Oakley (Hughes 90+6’), Watkins (Saunders 77’), Broadhurst, Green, Poole, Bowen.
Subs not used: Owen, Major.
Barry Town United: Brennan ©, Jenkins, Trivett (Davies 90+5), Houghton, Olden, Pearce, Phillips (Hamed-Jones 76’), Mulenga, Fahey-Pannell (Robinson 87’), Jones, Thomas.
Subs not used: Coles, Thomas.
Goals: Saunders 89’.
Yellow Cards: Olden 78’.
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