A place in the first cup final of the season was up for grabs this weekend, as the Adran Trophy reached its final stages.
Along with fixtures in the Adran North and Adran South, there was something for everyone this weekend in the world of Welsh football.
Adran Trophy
We start this week’s roundup down in Leckwith, with a battle between two teams at the top of their game. Cardiff City, a behemoth in the league this season, had their eyes firmly fixed on an unprecedented treble. TNS had just secured their place in the top four and confidence in the Saints camp was sky high. In an entertaining game, the Bluebirds kept their momentum going with a 3-1 win.
The first half was mainly fought in the trenches of the midfield, a clash epitomised by the heated exchange between Seren Watkins and Chantelle Teare. The best chance of the half fell to Phoebie Poole, but she could only hit the post from close range.
The second half started much like the second, but before the hour mark, TNS sent shockwaves through the City team. Caitlin Chapman’s cross turned shot sailed over Ceryn Chamberlain and Greg Draper’s side were ahead.
To their credit, the visitors didn’t sit on their lead and made strides to try and double the lead, but they lacked the final cutting edge. This allowed City to work their way back into the game, and they had an excellent chance to equalise from the penalty spot, only for Phoebie Poole to send her effort wide. Was this going to be TNS’ day?
It was certainly looking that way, until the final 20 minutes. To start, Manon Pearce’s looping side footed volley floated over Sarah Parkes and restored parity. It was clear to see the Bluebirds’ tails were up and they were going for the jugular.
Ten minutes from time, they were ahead. Set piece supremo Ffion Price delivered a delicious delivery to the far post and found the head of Siobhan Walsh, who kept her excellent, and perhaps surprising, goalscoring run going.
The dagger was sunken into Saints hearts three minutes later. Poole was not going to be denied any longer, and after spotting Parkes off her line, produced an outlandish chip from 35-yards out and into the net. Treble dreams are still alive for the Bluebirds.
Across the city, Cardiff Met were aiming to go one step closer to retaining their title, but standing in front of them was an Aberystwyth Town side who had final aspirations of their own. It was the Archers who would reach the final on this occasion, as they defeated the Seasiders 3-1.
Met made a fast start to the match and took the lead within the opening ten minutes, Ellie Preece with a well timed finish. Their second would come on the stroke of the half time whistle, as Preece turned provider this time, allowing Tija Richardson to double the lead.
If Aber were to get anything from this game, they needed a goal early on. Yet, it was a third Met goal that came at the start of the half to put the game almost beyond doubt. Emily Allen converting from Richardson’s pass.
This is an Aber team full of fighters, and they pulled one goal back almost immediately through Amy Jenkins, but it wasn’t to be for Gavin Allen’s side. They will have an opportunity to reach the final of the FAW Cup on Sunday when they take on Briton Ferry.
For Yzzy Taylor’s side, it’s another cup final for them, and another meeting against Iain Derbyshire’s team. It promises to be a tremendous tie on March 12th.
Adran North
Connah’s Quay still remain top of the table after they came away with a 1-0 victory away to Rhyl, but they were made to work for it.
A goal from Elana Harley 20 minutes from time to seal all three points for the Nomads. They certainly are a team who are showing that they can dig in and produce the moment needed to seal all three points. Is this the hallmarks of a champion?
If it’s not to be the Nomads, it could well be Wrexham, and they kept up their 100% record in the league with a 6-0 home victory over Llanfair United.
Like many Red Dragons games this season, they wasted no time in scoring their first goal. Sophie Hodson fed the ball through to Rosie Hughes, who made no mistake with her finish. Their second would follow four minutes later; Amber Lightfoot with an authoritative finish into the far corner.
They would go into the break three up, as Hughes secured her second after beating a defender one-on-one and finessing her strike past the keeper.
Their goalscoring exploits would continue soon after the second period commenced, as Lightfoot got her second, this time with a near post strike. The race was on between Hughes and Lightfoot, who would score a hat-trick first?
We had to wait until stoppage time to find the answer, but it was Hughes who bagged her third, taking her league tally to 13 goals. There was also time Lily Whitefoot to score a sixth for Steve Dale’s side. They remain a point behind the Nomads.
Y Felinheli secured their second victory of the season, with a 6-1 win over Airbus. The Wingmakers made the worst start possible, as Lucie White put the ball in her own net. Things got worse as Katie Midwinter doubled the lead, and the hosts were in danger of running away with the game.
Airbus did reduce the deficit to one through Jade Scott’s first goal of the season, but then the floodgates opened.
A second for Midwinter, along with a double for Ffion Williams and one for Jordanne Greenough sealed a comfortable win for Felinheli, as they stay fifth in the table.
Adran South
Our final stop in this week’s roundup takes us to our sole Adran South game, as Cascade YC kept their champion ambitions alive with a 3-0 win away to Caldicot Town.
In a quiet first half, a goal from the ever-present Annaliese Lewis was enough to see the visitors go into the break one goal in front.
Substitute Chrystella Moreton doubled the lead in the second half, before Jess Pascoe’s goal nine minutes from full time sealed a comprehensive victory.
They move two points behind Briton Ferry, but the current leaders do have a game in hand over Cascade.
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