Six of the best for Pontypridd United as they down Barry Town

Pontypridd United thumped Barry Town United 6-1, as they kept their hopes alive of finishing in the top four.

Two goals from Liv Francis along with one each for Emily Bayliss, Holly Broad, Carys Bufton and Alison Witts made it a comfortable afternoon for Ponty. Taite Trivett scored a consolation for Barry, who haven’t won since October.

The result moves Pontypridd into fourth place, while Barry remain in seventh.

James Fishlock and his side knew that they needed a victory to keep up their chances of claiming fourth spot, and they got off to a perfect start.

A cross into the box caused confusion in the Barry area, and the defence failed to clear their lines, allowing Emily Bayliss to pounce onto the loose ball to put the Dragons ahead.

When you face a forward line containing Anais Trinci, Jasmine Turner and Liv Francis, playing a high line is a brave decision. Unfortunately for Barry, they were struggling to restrict the pacey front three.

More chances came and went for the hosts, but they found their second on the half hour mark. A looping free kick from Holly Broad found its way to Francis, and she slotted the ball past an on rushing Erin Brennan.

The home fans only had to wait three minutes for the third. A Shannon Greenway corner finding Broad, who nodded the ball into the bottom corner.

A rampant first half from Ponty, one to forget for Barry.

Their experience got worse at the start of the second half. A through ball from Trinci found the run of Francis, who beat the offside trap expertly, before curling her effort round Brennan to make it four.

Barry did respond with a goal of their own after the hour mark. Taite Trivett went down the wing before cutting back inside and executing a lovely effort past Brook.

But Ponty restored their four-goal advantage with ten minutes to go. A cross from Efa Preece-Jones evaded every Barry defender, before finding fellow substitute Carys Bufton at the far post who tapped in.

On the full time whistle, Ponty got their sixth, as Shannon Greenway’s free kick wasn’t cleared by Barry, allowing Alison Witts to have a swing at the ball and knock it past Brennan.

Pontypridd will next travel to Aberystwyth in their final game of phase one. Barry now await their fixtures for phase two.

Player of the Match: Emily Bayliss

Holly Broad and Liv Franics deserve mentions, but Bayliss stood out for me. She patrolled the middle of the park well, especially against a physical Barry midfielder, and of course, she got the goal scoring proceedings underway today

Pontypridd United

Eleanor Brook (GK), Shannon Greenway, Jess Osborne (Alison Witts, 46’), Clare Daley, Holly Broad © (Carys Bufton, 73’), Emily Bayliss, Ellie Gunney, Anais Trinci (Madison Williams, 58’), Liv Francis, Evie Hughes, Jasmine Turner (Efa Preece-Jones, 73’)

Unused Sub: Maisie Jones (GK)

Goals: Emily Bayliss (7’), Liv Francis (29’, 50’), Holly Broad (32’), Carys Bufton (77’), Alison Witts (90’)

Barry Town United

Erin Brennan (GK), Lauren Harris ©, Holly Jenkins (Faith Mulenga, 46’), Delia Ebbin (Sophie Norman, 66’), Hana Bennett, Taite Trivett, Anna Houghton, Mackenzie Olden, Gina Robinson (Ruby Hamed-Jones, 66’), Brooke Evans (Nia Davies, 46’), Chloe Jones (Maisy Fahey-Pennell, 66’)

Goals: Taite Trivett (64’)

Yellow Cards: Mackenzie Olden (79’)