After the festive break, Welsh women’s football was back in action this weekend, with key fixtures happening across the spectrum.
The weather was still causing havoc to some fixtures, but this weekend we had four matches across four different competitions, and there were important league and cup places up for grabs.
FAW Cup
We start this week’s roundup with the FAW Cup. With three of the four semi-final places decided already, the final spot was to be filled by either Cardiff Met or Llandudno, with the winner taking on Cardiff City.
With the Seasiders having knocked out Swansea City in the Adran Trophy, they were eyeing up another cup triumph against one of Wales’ big three. The Archers however proved too much to handle, as they won 5-1.
Emily Allen put the home side ahead with a clever finish before the half hour mark. But Llandudno hit back ten minutes after the opener, Ffion Owen with the equaliser.
Then the pendulum swung towards Met’s favour on the stroke of half time, as they were awarded a penalty. Robyn Pinder stepped up and struck the ball home to give the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
The timing of the goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Dudno, as Met ran away with it in the in the second half. A second goal for Allen along with one each for Elianna Chavez and Kennesha Nanette sealed a comprehensive victory for the Archers. The Bluebirds now await them.
Adran Premier
What better way to kick off the return of the Adran Prem with a big matchup. The final place in the Championship Group was up for grabs with only four matches left of the season, and this meeting between Pontypridd United and TNS would go a long way in deciding how the final stages of the regular season would end.
It was the Saints who stepped up to the plate with a 4-0 win over the Dragons, in what was an incredible all-round performance from Greg Draper’s side.
Ponty dominated the opening ten minutes, but after that it was all TNS. They had a few chances to score early on, but the first goal came from Helen Evans. A magnificent 35-yard free kick looping over Maisie Jones, one to seek out on social media for sure.
The first goal bred confidence for the rest of the game, as TNS played at a level the home side simply couldn’t keep up with. Their second came three minutes after their first, Emily Ridge with an overhead kick, sending the away side’s supporters into a state of delirium.
Danielle Staley’s cool side footed finish before the break trebled the lead and things were looking wonderful for the Saints. However, they had let a three goal lead slip in their last league game with Aberystwyth Town, but they certainly weren’t going to let that happen again.
Beth Lewis converted a penalty after a handball in the area to wrap up all three points. TNS now leapfrog their opponents into fourth on goal difference. It is all to play for with three games left.
Adran North
With Wrexham’s game being postponed, there was an opportunity for Connah’s Quay Nomads to close the gap at the top if they got a win at home to Y Felinheli, and they duly delivered with a 4-0 win.
Y Felinheli held out their title chasing opponents for a large proportion of the first half, but with ten minutes to go until half time, the Nomads went ahead with a goal through Ella Harvey. There was a chance for Connah’s Quay to double their lead on the stroke of half time, but Kirstie Kural couldn’t convert her penalty.
But the Nomads need not fear, as the second goal did come two minutes into the second half, Aimee Hopkinson with the goal. Goals from Kylie Jones and Polly Wild-McGregor took the game away from Y Felineli, who remain in fourth.
Connah’s Quay close the gap at the top to two points, and with neither the Nomads or Wrexham having played each other this season, the title race will head down to the wire.
Adran South
Speaking of title races, the Adran South had a fascinating one on its hands. Before the Christmas break, Cascade YC had beaten Briton Ferry to jump into first place. This time the Ferry made amends for that defeat by winning this one 4-0 away from home.
With the first half looking like it would end in a stalemate, Lowri Baker punished Cascade, after they failed to clear their lines from a corner, to put Briton Ferry ahead. They would then go on to dominate the second half. Meg Kearle getting their second with an effort from range.
Jess Denscombe then executed a clever finish from Laura-May Walkley’s cross, before Kearle’s second wrapped up all three points.
The result leaves both sides level on points on top of the Adran South, but who will take the title come April is anyone’s guess.
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