Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham all through to second round

The next stage of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup took place this weekend, as the first-round proper got underway.

We had a lot of goals, a lot of drama, and a few shocks thrown into the mix. Let’s have a look at who advanced in the second round.

We begin in the shadow of Singleton Park. Swansea University had been a little bit of a surprise package in the Adran South; stringing a few good results together and so far, going unbeaten this season. Their opponents were Adran Premier side Barry Town United, who had failed to pick up a single point so far this season. In a game full of twists and turns, the University side sprung the surprise of the first round, defeating the Linnets on penalties.

Barry made a tremendous start to the game, finding themselves two up within the first 15 minutes. Former Swansea Uni forward Emily Freeman fired in from a corner, before Taite Trivett capitalised on a fumble from the goalkeeper. As Barry looked set to head back into the dressing room with a two-goal lead, Swansea Uni hit back, as American Jessica Goucher scored in the eighth minute of added time.

Buoyed by drawing one back, the Uni side got their equaliser five minutes into the second half, with Goucher again finding the net. The comeback was complete 20 minutes from time, with Angelika Barris capitalising on an error in the Barry defence. But there was one final twist left to come, as remarkably, in the eighth minute of added time in the second half, Lauren Harris scored a stunner to take the game into penalties.

After ten perfect spot kicks, both teams missed the following penalties. Barry would also miss their next one, before the home side scored the winner and claim a 6-5 win. Big win for Swansea Uni, Barry need to find some form soon.

Two weeks ago in the Adran Premier, Cardiff Met defeated Swansea City by three goals to one. Now, the heavyweights had been drawn together in the cup, and someone would have to suffer an incredibly early exit. In late fashion, it was Swansea who got sweet revenge on the Archers, with a 2-1 win.

One of the standout players so far for Cardiff Met has been Ingird Ådland, and she was once again in the centre of the action as Met took the lead. Her excellent pass found the run of Faith Mulenga, who joined the club this summer from Barry, and she scored her first goal for her new team. After conceding, Swansea pushed for an equaliser throughout the first half, but couldn’t breach Charlotte Smith’s goal, but they certainly went into the break confident of getting back into the tie.

Once again, the away side flew out the traps well in the second half, producing wave after wave of pressure, and finally, in the 77^th minute, they drew level. Katy Hosford’s floated corner found Chloe Chivers at the back stick, who rifled her strike home. Eleven short minutes later, Chivers found the winner, as a free kick took a couple of deflections before nestling in the back of Smith’s goal. A much-needed win for Swansea, who will certainly hope for a cup run this year.

Holders Cardiff City began the defence of their crown away in West Wales against Llanelli Town, and they swept aside the Adran South side with an emphatic 14-0 win. The bulk of the goals came through Eliza Collie and Madison Lloyd, who scored four each in this victory. Lloyd has proven to be a clinical goal scorer for the U19 side and made her first team debut against TNS in the Adran Premier. With more performances like this, she could well be the next talent coming off the Bluebirds conveyor belt.

Last season’s beaten finalists Briton Ferry also booked themselves a place in the second round, as they defeated Caldicot Town 4-1. Striker Alison Witts kept up her good run of form by scoring yet another goal in this fixture. Fellow Adran South side Cascade overcame Carmarthen Town 5-0. Captain Annaliese Lewis was on form, as she bagged a brace.

There were also good results for Adran Premier side. TNS won a North Wales battle over Adran North leaders Connah’s Quay with a 3-0 win at Park Hall. Aberystwyth Town kept up their unbeaten start to the season by also winning 3-0 away at Llanfair United, while Pontypridd United picked up their first win of the season by dismantling fourth tier side Penclawdd 9-0. Efa Preece-Jones the star of the show in that one. There was also a big win for Wrexham, who ran out 13-0 winners over Pwllheli. Ava Suckley scored an astonishing six goals in this one.

It isn’t enough for her to be the competition’s top scorer, however. That title belongs to Katie Richards of Penybont. Her hat-trick helped them to a 5-1 win at home over Newport City.

To round things off, there were also a host of wins for tier two sides. Eloise Meaney scored two and assisted two, as Cwmbran Celtic beat Ammanford 5-1. Fflur Williams scored a hat-trick as Y Felinheli defeated Bangor 6-1. Stevie Donougher added another two to her ever-growing tally, as Llandudno overcame NFA 5-0, and both Sade Benjamin and Laura Williams scored a brace, as Rhyl won 4-2 over Llangefni Town.

There were two games postponed this weekend. They were Cardiff Wanderers v Aberaman, and Pontardawe Town v Coed Duon.

The draw for the second round of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup will take place this Wednesday at 20:00.

(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)