Welsh Football Roundup – February 5th

With the final fixture being played in phase one of the Adran Premier and vital positions up for grabs in the Adran North and South, it was another big weekend in the Adran Leagues.

Goals, drama, and shocks were all on the menu this weekend, let’s see what went down.

Adran Premier

The final game in the Adran Premier took place at Park Hall. The task for TNS was simple. Win by four clear goals and a place in the Championship Conference was theirs. But their opponents, Abergavenny, came into this in the best form this season; four points in their last two games, including a win in their last game against Pontypridd, their first of the season.

It certainly seemed that the footballing gods had their eyes on the Saints, as they did what was needed by claiming a 4-0 win over the Pennies.

Greg Draper’s side knew they needed a fast start in order to rack up the goals, and they got two within the first half hour of the game. A free kick caused confusion in the Abergavenny box, but Lucie Platt responded quickest to tap in for the first, before Helen Evans converted from a Caitlin Chapman cross.

This is an Abergavenny team whose confidence has been growing over the last couple of league games, and they stifled the hosts for a good chunk of the second half, but their defence was breached again in the 72^nd minute. Isobel Redding heading in from another Chapman delivery.

As time ticked on and with the crowd biting their nails, their prayers were answered with two minutes to go. Emily Ridge with a composed finish into the bottom corner after a threaded ball through by the afore mentioned Evans. The dream was complete.

TNS will join Cardiff City, Swansea City and Cardiff Met in the Championship Conference.

Abergavenny will be joined by Pontypridd United, Aberystwyth Town and Barry Town United in the Plate Conference.

Adran North

After not playing last week, Wrexham returned to Adran North action with a tricky trip to Llandudno. A Dudno victory would really make it a three horse race for the title, but it wasn’t to be, as the Red Dragons defeated the current Adran North holders 5-0.

The hosts restricted their opponents until the hour mark, but then their barricades were well and truly breached. Rosie Hughes teed up Libby Mackenzie for the first, before Hughes herself grabbed her first of the game.

It’s difficult to think of anymore superlatives for the mercurial Hughes, as she grabbed another two goals to complete an eight-minute hat trick to put Wrexham four up.

Rebecca Pritchard scored a penalty in second half stoppage time to make it five, and they now open up an eleven-point gap to the Seasiders.

The result keeps them one point behind leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads who beat Llanfair United 3-2, but they were certainly made to work for it.

In a frantic start to the game Harriet Davies put Llanfair ahead after six minutes, only for Sienna Strapp to equalise a minute later. United roared back and again took the lead, this time through Gemma Jones. But the Nomads rallied back once more and scored a minute before the break courtesy of Tamara Hamer.

Just before the hour mark, Kirstie Kural scored what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot, as the visitors took all three points.

In what the most entertaining game of the weekend, Rhyl defeated Airbus 4-3 at the Belle Vue Stadium.

Rachael Nattrass got proceedings underway in the eighth minute, but the Wingmakers pegged them back twelve minutes later through Anna Owen. They remained level for five minutes as Tegan Crockett scored a second, before Nattrass completed her brace on the stroke of half time to make it 3-1 heading into the break.

As the contest dwindled into its final stage, Airbus produce a stunning comeback. Two goals from Charlotte Dykes, one in the 84^th minute and one in the 89^th, bought them back on level terms, and it looked certain that Airbus would secure their first point of the season.

But football is a cruel game, and they were denied in stoppage time, as Chelsea Evans made sure all three points would stay in Rhyl.

Adran South

Briton Ferry extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with a 4-0 win against Pontardawe Town.

It took 40 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, but it came through Lowri Ridings, as she headed home from a corner. They got their second before the break. Lowri Baker with a cool finish after a spectacular through ball by Laura-May Walkley.

Kearle would then turn goal scorer as she netted in from Baker’s cross, before Ridings’ second rounded off Ferry’s goal scoring antics in stoppage time.

There was delight down at Jubilee Way as Caldicot Town secured their first points of the season, with a 1-1 draw against Swansea University.

Hannah Foulkes had put the hosts ahead with a penalty ten minutes into the second half, but a Katie Horsburgh equaliser 20 minutes from time meant the points were shared.

The result leaves Caldicot seven points adrift at the bottom of the table.