Eliza Collie brace inspires unbeaten Cardiff City to victory over TNS
CARDIFF, WALES - 17 SEPTEMBER 2023: Eliza Collie of Cardiff City during the Genero Adran Premier fixture between Cardiff Met FC and Cardiff City Women FC Ladies at Cardiff Met Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff, Wales. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Cardiff City extended their winning run against The New Saints with a comfortable 3-1 victory at the Leckwith Stadium.
The Bluebirds took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal from youngster Eliza Collie. New signing Molly Kehoe celebrated her first start with a great strike from a tight angle to make it 2-0 on the 41st minute.
The away side came out firing in the second half getting a goal on the 54th minute thanks to a Chantelle Teare header. The home side settled the game in the 91st minute as Rhianne Oakley found Collie for her second of the game.
The result sees Cardiff climb to third in the table after three games played. The New Saints remain fifth despite the loss in South Wales.
It was a confident start from the Bluebirds as they looked to gain possession early. Their first chance came from a free kick on the left side of the box. It was delivered in by Ffion Price but the keeper collected well.
Cardiff City had a first shot on goal when Mackenzie Olden was played through but her rushed shot was comfortably saved.
The first opportunity for the away side come after 15 minutes. They managed to win a corner that was firstly flicked away by the Cardiff defence before a dangerous ball back in was just too high for anyone to get on the end of.
Just five minutes later it was the Bluebirds who grabbed the first goal of the game. Oakley picking up the ball in midfield before playing a defence splitting pass for Eliza Collie to run through. She managed to beat the keeper to the ball and slot the ball home.
Cardiff almost had a second minutes later but a great save from Haydn-Jones kept Olden out. They come close again in the 37th minute after a great corner delivered by Ffion Price was headed just over by Megan Bowen.
The pressure paid off as they got their second goal towards half-time. Molly Kehoe done brilliantly to turn past a defender before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner from a tight angle, the perfect first goal for her new club and an early contender for goal of the season.
The home side went in at halftime with a two-goal advantage and looking like they were going to pick up another three points.
The Saints come out firing in the second half as expected. They managed to break away on the counter attack with Caitlin Chapman attempting a long-range strike from just inside the Cardiff half. It looked like it was going to beat the goalkeeper but dropped just wide of the post.
They got back into the game with a headed goal on the 54th minute. Chantelle Teare flicking home a header to get them their first goal.
The Saints then come close to levelling the game just minutes later as Emily Ridge was played through. She managed to get the ball around the keeper but stabbed the ball wide.
It was the Bluebirds with the next effort on goal. Rhianne Oakley who was the standout player for the home side cut inside and unleashed a left footed strike that drifted just past the post. The City number seven was denied again just a minute later forcing another great save from the Saints keeper.
The home side looked to gain control back of the game and came close to a third with 69 minutes played. Kelly Adams almost opening her Bluebirds account with a long range strike that whistled wide of goal.
It was an open second half with both sides pushing for more goals. The away side come close to an equaliser on the 73rd minute with Ella Hartley’s strike from a tight angle forcing Chamberlain to make a save. They come close again on the 79th minute. A header from a corner cleared off the line by Bluebirds captain Hannah Power.
The first yellow card of the game came on the 79th minute as TNS fullback Lia Lewis was booked for a late challenge. Eliza Collie picked up a yellow three minutes later for the Bluebirds the only cards of the game.
The Saints pushed hard in the last few minutes to get a leveller putting the home side under pressure, but Cardiff done well to keep them out.
And the pressure was lifted in the 91st minute as they added a third. It was Oakley creating again as she broke down the right side of the box before finding Collie who flicked the ball first time past the keeper for her second of the game.
The away side continued to push forward but it was in vain as the final whistle blew. The Bluebirds coming away with all three points.
Cardiff City – Ceryn Chamberlain (GK), Lisa Owen, Ffion Price, Hannah Power (C), Megan Bowen, Rhianne Oakley, Kelly Adams (Brooke Arthur 90+7), Molly Kehoe, Mackenzie Olden (Madison Lloyd 67’), Emma Beynon, Eliza Collie (Mali Ackerman 90+4’)
Goals: Eliza Collie 20’ 90+1’ Molly Kehoe 41’
Yellow Cards: Eliza Collie 81’
The New Saints – Mackenzie Haydn-Jones (GK), Bethan Lewis, Chantelle Teare (Ellie Hill 90’), Ella Hartley, Chloe Shirley, Caitlin Chapman (Nicole Samson 90+3), Helen Evans, Isobel Redding, Lia Lewis, Emily Ridge, Evie Williams
Goals: Chantelle Teare 54’
Yellow Cards: Lia Lewis 79’
