We are now reaching the business end of the season, where we sort the wheat from the chaff and where the stars shine brightest.
Teams at the right and wrong ends of the table came into this weekend knowing a win or a defeat could really set them up well or badly for the final run in. Let’s see how it all panned out.
Adran Premier – Championship Conference
The task was pretty simple for Cardiff City. Win their next three league games and the title would head to the blue side of the capital. The first of those three games saw them head to Park Hall, to take on a TNS side who certainly are a team on the up and looking to compete with the three behemoths of the league. After an early scare, the Bluebirds came back to win 5-1.
The hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute, a Caitlin Chapman corner headed in by Helen Evans, City caught flat footed. But two minutes later the response came, Danielle Green’s cross turned in by Zoe Atkins. They got the important second before half time, Meg Bowen this time with the cross, and Danielle Broadhurst was on hand to provide the finish.
From then on the Iain Darbyshire’s side didn’t look back and they stormed to victory. Siobhan Walsh continued her impressive goal scoring run by heading in Seren Watkins’ corner, before Watkins turned provider again, as her pass found Rhianne Oakley who powered home. Youngster Eliza Collie finished the goal scoring spree in stoppage time, as City took a big step towards the title.
With the Bluebirds winning, Swansea City needed to win to hold out any hope of retaining their Adran Premier crown. This weekend saw them take on Cardiff Met, and they delivered with a 4-0 win away to the Archers.
In what was a quiet first half, Stacey John-Davies bought the game into life with a sumptuous effort into the far corner, as the Swans went into the break ahead. The forward didn’t waste much time in completing her hat-trick. A powerful cross goal effort and capitalising on a defensive mix-up meant she scored her three goals in less than half an hour.
Chloe Chivers completed the rout with a thumping effort, and the Swans are back on the winning road, a road they must keep on until the end.
Adran Premier – Plate Conference
A month ago, Pontypridd United and Abergavenny met, and the Pennies’ first win of the season denied the Dragons a place in the Championship Conference. They met again at the USW Sport Park on Sunday, and Ponty got their revenge with a 2-0 win.
For a good chunk of the first half the Abergavenny defence were holding out their opponents, but a minute before the break Anais Trinci found the run of the illusive Liv Franics, and she tucked the ball away to put the home side ahead.
Four minutes after the break, Carys Bufton scored her second goal in two games, as she fired home from Kirstie Pervin-Davies’ pass. Ponty could’ve scored more with chances coming for a number of the team, but it remained 2-0. The result means Ponty are still well on track to win the Plate again, while Abergavenny remain bottom.
After last week’s defeat to Ponty, Aberystwyth Town returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-0 win over a struggling Barry Town United side.
Their first goal was a classic breakaway, as Libby Isaac’s ball was collected by Emily Thomas, and she manufactured an elegant chip into the back of the net. The Seasiders went into the dressing room two up, after Amy Jenkins headed in from a Shauna Chambers corner.
If Barry were going to get anything from this, they needed to start the second half quick, but Gavin Allen’s side had other ideas, as they got their third less than a minute into the second half. Chambers this time getting herself on the scoresheet with a mesmeric curling effort. Aber can still win the plate but will need a raft of results to go their way.
Adran North
Wrexham. They have been the standard in the Adran North so far this season, and they capped off a remarkable campaign by winning the Adran North with an emphatic 11-1 with over Rhyl.
The superlative Rosie Hughes scored five of the eleven goals, while there was also a hat-trick for the noteworthy Amber Lightfoot and one each for Rebecca Pritchard, Libby Mackenzie and Lili Jones. Jones had won the U19 North Division on Friday night with the Red Dragons and continued her good week with a great performance on Sunday.
Laura Williams did score one for Rhyl, but they simply ran into a team in fine form. The result means that Wrexham will face the winners of the Adran South in April with a place in the Adran Premier up for grabs.
It was a great day for Airbus, as they recorded their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph over Llanfair United. Georgia Spibey scored the only goal of the game as the Wingmakers picked up their first points of the season.
The result means they are only four points behind Llanfair, can they catch up with them before the season ends?
Y Felinheli shocked last season’s Adran North champions Llandudno by beating them 3-2 away from home.
It was a fast start from the visitors, as they were two up inside 20 minutes thanks to goals from Fflur Williams and Jordanne Greenhough. With Felinheli being two up at half time, things needed to change for Dudno, and they got a perfect opportunity to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot, and they duly did so through Jasmin Dutton.
But Felinheli weren’t to be deterred by this slight setback, as they regained their two goal lead thanks to Shannon Jones. Maddie Williams’ 87th minute goal made it nervy, but the away side held out to record an impressive win.
Adran South
FAW Cup finalists Briton Ferry continued their quest for the Adran South title with a 6-0 win over Swansea University.
They had to work hard to break down the students initially, but Lowri Baker converted Laura-May Walkley’s cross in the 35th minute to put Ferry ahead. Seven minutes after the first, they had another two goals to make sure they went into the break three ahead. Lucy Powell with a cool finish, before Meg Kearle scored a stunner.
Second half goals from Lowri Ridings, Fleur Jenkins and Mollie Jones made it a comfortable afternoon for the hosts, as they look good to win the league.
Cascade YC are still in with a shout of winning the Adran South after a 1-0 win over Caldicot Town. Annaliese Lewis’ goal seven minutes in the second half was enough to gain the three points.
They are five points behind Briton Ferry, but the leaders have a game in hand, meaning if Cascade are to win the title, they need other results to go their way.
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