It was a Hollywood story for Wrexham at the home of Cardiff Met here at the Cyncoed Campus, as the north Welsh side breezed past the Archers 3-0 to stay within touching distance of Cardiff City. A strong second-half performance from Wrexham, led by their super striker Rosie Hughes who was ultimately sent off in the final minutes, ensured the win a determined Archers side.
Cardiff Met went with the same starting XI which took the field against Pontypridd United, as their star Ingrid Aadland kicked the game off in sunny but cold conditions. It was an even start from both sides as they took turns building attacks as well as being defensively organised. Wrexham started being more offensive after the first quarter, but Met handled it well thanks to some outstanding sliding tackles to stop the final ball. Rosie Hughes almost made the end of wonderful long ball off a Met corner kick, after beating the last Met defender for pace. Archers goalie Daisy Farrow almost gave the ball to the incoming Wrexham forwards in a moment of pressure.
The home side however found some momentum after the 20th minute when Ingrid Aadland’s defence-breaking long ball from the right wing was slightly heavy for her teammate, as Wrexham goalie Chloe Ankers gathered the ball. More through balls followed in the next minutes, as Met started dominating proceedings. Wrexham were patient in their build-up, while the Archers took to quick passes and link-ups to reach the opposition final third. Met captain Erin Murray linked up with wingers Amy Long and Ellie Preece effectively, and Ingrid Aadland was always keen to drop back to open up the wings.
Wrexham finally got a grip into the game in the closing minutes of the first half with relentless pressing, coming agonisingly close to scoring in the 44th minute when Carra Jones scuffed an absolute sitter of a tap-in from close range.
The away team continued the momentum from the end of the first half to start strong in the second, particularly with attacks from the right. Barring a counter-attacking from Met in the 50th minute which caught the Wrexham defence off-guard and forced goalie Chloe Ankers to come off her line to collect the ball, the north Welsh side were pretty confident in their game.
The game turned a bit physical in the 54th minute, when Wrexham’s Phoebe Davies saw yellow for a nasty challenge on Met winger Ellie Preece. There was a terribly unfortunate moment the next minute when Wrexham captain Keren Allen was hit in the face by a powerful Met clearance, leaving her unconscious for a while and forcing a substitution. There were cheers by the travelling supporters upon seeing Allen back on her feet and walking off the pitch.
Rosie Hughes put the ball past the Archers goalie Daisy Farrow in the 61st minute, after an attack down the right found the Wrexham goal-scorer to tap it in to wrap up a brilliant team goal. The visitors started to get a proper hold to the game after the opener, attacking from all ends as Met tried to stay in the game. However, Wrexham buried all chances of a Met comeback after scoring in the 73rd minute, as Mari Elin Gibbard scored the second goal of the game after some excellent distribution from the midfield to break the Archers defence.
It was a golden chance for Rosie Hughes to score a third for Wrexham only a minute later, but her shot was aimed straight at the goalkeeper. The emotions got the better of her and the strength and conditioning coach of the travelling team in the 79th minute, as the ref showed them both the yellow card for dissent. However, it was Hughes’ moment to shine again as she would find Ava Suckley free near the penalty spot from the left, for the substitute to tap in and score the third goal for Wrexham. Hughes’ extraordinary outing was capped off by a red card, after a rash challenge on bruised Met defender Grace Corne forced to referee to book her for a second yellow.
The match ended after a long 11-minute added time given for the multiple injury breaks and the red card. Wrexham’s long journey to the south paid off with a comprehensive victory over Cardiff Met, putting the home side third from bottom.
Cardiff Met – Daisy Farrow (GK), Sophie Davidson, Anna Houghton, Tiggeraa Webb, Grace Amelia Corne, Emily Bayliss (Sally Grimm 63’), Amy Long, Chelsea Cochrane, Ingrid Aadland, Erin Murray, Ellie Preece (Emily Nicholson 76’).
Yellow Cards – Sophie Davidson 80’, Tiggeraa Webb 90’.
Wrexham – Chloe Ankers, Phoebe Davies, Louisha Kay Doran, Rebecca Pritchard, Rosie Hughes, Tonicha Jade Dickens, Amber Lightfoot, Carra Jones (Ava Suckley 76’), Lili Mai Jones, Keren Allen (Katie Sharp 57’), Mari Elin Gibbard.
Goals – Rosie Hughes 61’, Mari Elin Gibbard 73’, Ava Suckley 90’.
Yellow Cards – Pheobe Davies 50’, Rosie Hughes 86’, Rosie Hughes 90+7’.
Red Card – Rosie Hughes 90+7’
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