Cardiff City win the title and Wrexham put on a show at the Racecourse
There’s no other way of saying it, but this weekend in Welsh football has been nothing short of outstanding.
League titles, record crowds and bags of goals were all on this week’s menu, let’s have a look back on all the action.
Adran Premier – Championship Plate
We start this week in Leckwith. Cardiff City have been the league’s standard bearers this season and were one win away from glory. Standing in their way was TNS, who always seem to cause City problems when they’ve travelled down to the Cardiff International Sports Campus. This time, they weren’t able to stop the Bluebirds, as City won the Adran Premier with a 3-1 win.
It was a quiet start from both sides, but Ffion Price reduced the nerves of the home side, as her cross turned shot looped over Sarah Parkes. TNS hit back straight after, however. Beth Lewis’ free kick somehow evading everyone in the box and finding the far corner, and in truth, TNS went into the break looking the more likely to score the next goal.
Despite being on the back foot, the Bluebirds rallied back in the second half and a brace from Siobhan Walsh secured the win. Her first, a bullet header from a corner, her second a powerful strike from the penalty spot. Walsh had a chance for her hat-trick, but she missed her second spot kick. In the end it didn’t matter, as wild scenes ensued after the final whistle. City’s decade long league drought is over.
Swansea City secured second place in the league with a 3-0 win over Cardiff Met. Chloe Chivers opened the scoring with a remarkable effort from 30-yards out to put the Swans ahead, and it’s good to see Chivers in a good run of form after a long spell out with injury.
Swansea were by far the better side in this contest and spent the whole game knocking on the door, looking for their second. Monet Legall and Jess Williams both went close, but they saw their efforts cleared off the line.
Eventually the hosts would extend their lead with five minutes remaining, Meg Saunders playing a cross into Nia Rees who fired home from close range. Saunders would then go on to score her first goal for the club from the spot in stoppage time.
While Swansea finish second, Met confirmed their third place finish in the league. The Archers have yet to score or win in the Championship Plate, and they’ll be hoping to finish the season on a high.
Adran Premier – Conference Plate
Not so long ago, Abergavenny denied Pontypridd United a place in the top four. This time round, history would not repeat itself as the Dragons got revenge with a 5-1 win.
Holly Broad’s header put James Fishlock’s side ahead, before Carys Bufton fired in a sumptuous effort after being teed up by Maddie Williams. Liv Francis continued her fine season, as she reached double figures for goals this season by rounding the defender and producing a calm finish.
Lauren Boyd clawed one back for the Pennies, but late goals from Lucy Jones and Evie Hughes (both scoring their first goals for the club) meant it was a rout for Ponty.
The Dragons need a point from their next two games to win the Conference Plate. Unfortunately for Abergavenny, the defeat means they are relegated from the Adran Premier after one season.
If Pontypridd do slip up in their final two games, Aberystwyth Town are in with a chance of winning the Conference Plate, after defeating Barry Town United 2-0 at Jenner Park.
A first half penalty from Tania Wylde and an early second half strike from Kelly Thomas sealed a win for the Seasiders, who are now on a three game winning run in the league. The only negative is the injury sustained to keeper Elen Valentine, but hopefully for Aberystwyth and Cymru, it isn’t too serious.
Defeat for Barry confirms their seventh placed finish in the Adran Premier this season.
Adran North
Well, what a spectacle it was at the Racecourse. 9,511 fans packed in to watch the two best sides in the North play out their final league fixtures. The majority of fans at the famous old ground went home happy, as Wrexham beat Connah’s Quay 2-1.
The game got off to a rip-roaring start as Tonicha Dickens scored a stupendous free-kick (well worth seeking out on Twitter). But the Nomads got themselves back into the game as Ella Harvey scored after a scramble in the box from a corner.
As the game played out it looked like a draw would be the likely outcome, who else but Rosie Hughes rounded the keeper and slotted home to cause an explosion of noise. Wrexham will now have to wait three weeks to play their final game of the season, the playoff final against Briton Ferry.
The most exciting game of the weekend came at the Belle Vue Stadium, as Rhyl and Y Felinheli played out a breath-taking 3-3 draw.
Both sides traded jabs early on in the contest. Kelly Jones put the visitors in front, before Kayla Hargreaves equalised less than a minute later. Despite drawing level, Rhyl would find themselves 3-1 down going into the break, as goals Jody Cain and Yasmin Williams had the visitors in a comfortable position.
But Rhyl worked their way back into the game, and Rebecca Bannister’s goal in 75th minute made it a tense finish. But no one would expect the game to end in the 99th minute from the penalty spot. Up stepped Rachael Nattrass to cap off the Rhyl comeback.
Llandudno made it back-to-back wins in the Adran North with a 3-0 win away to Airbus.
First half goals from Stacey Treadwell and Rebecca Jarvis-Evans had Dudno in a comfortable position, but a red card to Jasmin Dutton ten minutes into the second half made the task slightly harder for the away side. But they need not worry, as Ffion Owen’s goal sealed the 3-0 win.
Llandudno have two games left to play, and they could still finish the season in second place.
Adran South
Cascade YC sealed their biggest win of the season on Sunday, with a 6-1 triumph over Caldicot Town.
It was a stunning first half, with six of the seven goals being scored in it. Cascade were five up within the first 43 minutes. Two goals from Molly Chapman along with a goal each Ellie Binhendy, Mia Kemp and Annaliese Lewis had them in a strong position.
Lucy McDonough pulled one back for Caldicot on the stroke of half time, but a 90th minute goal from Jess Pascoe made it 6-1. Cascade will look to finish the season on a high as they take on Briton Ferry in their final Adran South fixture of the season.
Pontardawe Town left it late but sealed all three points as they defeated Swansea University 1-0 at the Swansea University Sports Centre.
An 83rd minute penalty from Catryn Cook was enough to make it seven wins this season for Pontardawe. Cook is now 13 goals for the season, and she’ll be looking to get a few more in their final game to win the golden boot.
