Cymru hammered Northern Ireland 4-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium, in the first of their two April friendlies.
First half goals from Jess Fishlock, Angharad James and Hannah Cain had Cymru in a comfortable position heading into the break. Rachel Rowe added a fourth in the second half, but Lauren Wade did score a consolation goal for the Green and White Army.
With the retirement of Helen Ward and the absence of Kayleigh Green, Gemma Grainger elected to go with Hannah Cain as the central striker, with Ceri Holland and Rachel Rowe acting as wingers.
There was a welcome return for Esther Morgan, as she returned from a long injury to don the red shirt again.
The first ten minutes was a lot of what we’ve become used to of Cymru; a side with a lot of possession but nothing much to show for it in an attacking sense.
However, the hosts didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock. Sophie Ingle picked out Rachel Rowe superbly. The Reading player hooked the ball back into the box, and there was Jess Fishlock, lurking in the box and ready to pounce with a good volley. Shannon Turner had no chance in goal.
Less than ten minutes later the lead had doubled. More great vision from Ingle, this time finding the run of Fishlock, who had beaten the offside trap with ease. She cut the ball back into the box, where Angharad James was there to tap in. The midfield three were in dynamite form.
There was a rare sight unfolding in front of the eyes of the assembled Red Wall, a flurry of goals. This time it was a special moment for Hannah Cain, as she scored her first international goal.
Ceri Holland laid it out to Rhiannon Roberts and her low cross into the box went unchallenged by anyone in a red or white shirt, but Cain was there to pounce to finally get on the score sheet for her country.
This is a Northern Ireland team without a set coaching staff currently, and it was showing. They were getting torn apart by Cymru, who didn’t yield a chance all half.
The Cymru pressure persisted as the second half started. A barrage of crosses went into the Northern Ireland box, but their defenders were dealing with the danger.
Despite their efforts, it would be a cross that was their undoing. Holland’s ball into the area was flapped at by Turner, and waiting at the far post was Rowe, who had the easiest of finishes to make it four.
The introduction of substitutes for the visitors did result in more of a presence up the other end of the pitch, and they did pull one back.
Gemma Evans dithered on the ball for slightly too long and was robbed in possession by Lauren Wade. Wade then opened up her body and curled the ball in from a ridiculously tight angle to reduce the deficit down to three.
It was a good game to introduce some of the squad’s fringe players, such as Elise Hughes, Ella Powell and Josie Green, and no doubt Gemma Grainger will be delighted with the win and the fact they scored buckets of goals on a good night for Cymru.
Cymru now head to Guimarães to take on Portugal on Tuesday evening.
Player of the Match: Sophie Ingle
Ingle was brilliant this evening. So often when playing for club we pigeonhole her as this ball winning, tenacious midfielder, but she is so much more than that. Her vision was second to none tonight and it was a tremendous performance from her
Cymru
Liv Clark (GK), Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd (Josie Green, 68’), Gemma Evans, Esther Morgan (Ella Powell, 77’), Sophie Ingle ©, Angharad James, Jess Fishlock (Meg Wynne, 87’), Ceri Holland, Hannah Cain (Elise Hughes, 68’), Rachel Rowe (Ffion Morgan, 68’)
Unused Subs: Laura O’Sullivan, Safia Middleton-Patel, Chloe Williams, Georgia Walters, Charlie Estcourt, Alice Griffiths, Anna Filbey
Goals: Jess Fishlock (16’), Angharad James (25’), Hannah Cain (30’), Rachel Rowe (64’)
Northern Ireland
Shannon Turner (GK), Rebecca McKenna, Demi Vance (Rebecca Holloway, 46’), Sarah McFadden, Ellie Mason (Emily Wilson, 65’), Marissa Callaghan © (Rachel Furness, 65’), Kelsie Burrows (Laura Rafferty, 79’), Lauren Wade, Nadene Caldwell, Megan Bell (Chloe McCarron, 46’), Caragh Hamilton (Kerry Beattie, 79’)
Unused Subs: Maddie Harvey Clifford, Lilie Woods, Caitlin McGuinness, Kirsty McGuinness, Joely Andrews, Abbie Magee
Goals: Lauren Wade (73’)
Yellow Cards: Megan Bell (27’), Rachel Furness (76’), Rebecca Holloway (81’), Laura Rafferty (85’)
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