What a weekend we had in Welsh football, with so many crucial matchups in the Adran Leagues.
The Adran Premier in particular had games that affected the top and bottom of the table, and there were shocks aplenty.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Adran Premier
The South Wales Derby. A fixture that can stir up emotions, and a matchup where results maybe mean more compared to other games. For Cardiff City, they looked to maintain their lead at the top of the table. For Swansea City, a win against their bitter rivals would certainly make the title picture incredibly interesting. It wasn’t a classic, but the Bluebirds stretched their unbeaten run to 29 games, as they defeated the Swans by one goal to nil.
With a host of attacking talent on display from both sides, it was no surprise there were chances galore in the first half. For Swansea, Katy Hosford and Stacey John-Davies saw their efforts go narrowly wide, while for Cardiff, Molly Kehoe, Eliza Collie, and Hannah Power couldn’t find the back of the net.
During the second half, Cardiff began to apply a lot of pressure. Kehoe once again raced through on goal, but once again, Claire Skinner was equal to it. But the wonderkid from the Cayman Islands wasn’t to be denied again, as she floated into the box and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. With the lead, the Bluebirds held on to record their sixth win of the season, and they really are looking unbeatable.
The top of the table had a crucial game, and there was one at the bottom this weekend too. Pontypridd United had lost all of their six games, and with interim manager Jonathan Spyropoulos in charge, they needed something to go their way quickly. Their opponents this week were the side directly above them in the table, Barry Town United. Ponty’s woes continued, as they were swept aside by Barry, who left the Valleys with a 3-0 win.
After a quiet opening phase, Alana Murphy had the first chance of the contest after Erin Brennan’s scuffed goal kick dropped straight to her, but she somehow put her shot wide. How the hosts would be made to rue that opportunity, as Barry took the lead from the penalty spot; Aimee Deacon dispatching clinically after being fouled by Klaudia Wojtyczka. The lead was doubled right on the stroke of half time, as the knee of Holly Jenkins helped the ball into the bottom corner.
The Dragons pushed throughout the second half, but nothing seemed to be coming off for them. Gracie Grosvenor had a guilt-edged chance when the ball found her unmarked in the six-yard box, but she couldn’t get any good connection on it. As Pontypridd pushed, Barry could hit on the break, especially through their pacey substitutes. It would be one of them who scored their third; India Shanahan placing the ball cooly past the keeper. Barry now six points ahead of Ponty, who look in real trouble.
With Swansea stumbling this week, a chance presented itself to Wrexham. Steve Dale’s side had shocked a lot of people with their form this season, and genuinely looked like a contender to push Cardiff City all the way. Cardiff Met were up against them this week, who have been yo-yoing in terms of form all season. In their first trip to the capital this year, Wrexham performed admirably as they stormed to a 3-0 away win.
Despite being in the top three, Wrexham struggled for large chunks of the first half against the Archers. Ingrid Ådland and Ellie Preece kept running at the back line, but debutant goalkeeper Chloe Ankers wasn’t going to let anything past her easily. After a goalless first half, the game was brought to life after the hour mark through Rosie Hughes. A big sigh of relief for the travelling contingent.
With a goal under their belts, confidence began to seep through the entire team, and they doubled their advantage ten minutes later, as Mari Gibbard executed a mesmeric chip over the onrushing Met keeper. The game was well and truly put to bed in the 90th minute, as Ava Suckley scored her first goal of the season, converting from Hughes’ cut back. The result was marred slightly with Hughes getting sent off in the 99th minute, but the result will delight those in red no end.
In North Wales, there was a meeting between two teams who had their sights set on finishing in the top four come February. TNS may feel a little hard done by not to be on more points coming into the contest and came into the game losing their last two. After going unbeaten in their first four games, Aberystwyth Town had also lost their last two. In a topsy-turvy game, TNS came out on top with a 4-3 win.
Things certainly didn’t start well for the Saints, as they found themselves behind 14 minutes in. Amy Jenkins played a ball into the path of Gwenllian Jones who guided her strike into the net, in what was the only goal in the first half. Seven minutes into the second period, Aber had a second. An inviting free kick from Rebecca Mathias found the head of Wales U19 international Imogen Scourfield, who headed in from close range.
The Saints hit back less than a minute later, as Caitlin Chapman produced a fine finish inside the box. From then on, Greg Draper’s team controlled the tie and responded to going behind in style. Firstly, a handball in the box by an Aber player led to a penalty being awarded, and once again, captain Beth Lewis scored to draw them level. The comeback was complete in the 69th minute, as Ella Hartley struck a wonderful hit into the bottom corner.
The cherry was put on top of the cake in stoppage time, with Chapman once again scoring a brace. The best goal was reserved for Niamh Duggan, who scored a stunning 35-yard free kick which snuck in off the bar, but time ran out before the Seasiders could find a leveller. A pulsating game.
Adran North
The game with the most significance in the second tier came in the Adran North, as Llandudno matched up against Connah’s Quay. Between them, they had scored 40 goals in six league games, but in a tight affair, the Nomads secured a big 2-0 win to open the gap on Dudno.
After a goalless first half, Phoebe Ellis roared the Nomads into life, as she powered in an extraordinary strike from 25-yards out. The leaders continued to build up a collection of chances but couldn’t find a crucial second. That was until the 92nd minute when Shannon Hobbs fired in from the edge of the box.
There is still of course a long way to go in the season, but you feel this is a huge result for the Nomads, as they look to go one better than last season.
In, remarkably, only their second game of the Adran North season, Y Felinheli kept up their unbeaten start with a 4-0 win over Airbus.
Two goals within a minute had Felin in a comfortable position with less than ten minutes gone. Catrin Evans put them in front, before Jody Cain converted from Jenna Allsup’s pass. In the second half there was a goal each for Ffion Williams and Fflur Williams, as Y Felinheli march up the table, and are now only three points behind Llandudno.
Elsewhere in North Wales, there was drama in the final few minutes, as Llanfair United and Rhyl played out a 1-1 draw.
With the game seemingly heading for a 0-0 draw, the home side took the lead with captain Mary Bailey finishing off from a Courtney Ashworth ball. However, Sade Benjamin has been a saviour for Rhyl on so many occasions so far this season, and it was no different this time round, as she equalised in the 89th minute, as both teams settled for a point.
Adran South
Briton Ferry were yet to concede a goal in the Adran South this season, but coming up against a Swansea University team who were unbeaten in the league so far, you felt like there was a potential banana skin. But Ferry navigated it perfectly and came away with a 6-0 win.
The away side began well, and while they had numerous chances, failed to fire past the keeper. That trend lasted until the 37th minute, when last season’s top scorer Meg Kearle chipped the ball into the goal. The winger only had to wait another minute to get her second, as she combined with Fleur Jenkins to fire the ball home.
No one has been able to keep Alison Witts quiet this season, and Swansea Uni couldn’t do it either, as just after the hour, the league’s top scorer grabbed Ferry’s third. The game remained at 3-0 for a while, but when Jessica Goucher was sent off ten minutes before the end, the floodgates opened. A stunning second from Witts along with goals from Laura-May Walkley and Lowri Baker sealing a dominant win.
Cascade continued to keep the pressure on Briton Ferry, as they defeated Pontardawe Town 3-1 on home soil. It only took Phoebe Ware six minutes to break the deadlock, and when Annaliese Lewis scored five minutes before the break, Cascade held a comfortable lead.
However, Renee Day has been in spectacular form of late, and her penalty shortly after the restart brought Ponty right back into the contest. But Lauren Boyd wrapped things up after the hour mark, as Cascade made it back-to-back wins in the South.
Finally, two of the league’s newest sides played out an even game, as Llanelli Town and Cwmbran Celtic played out a 1-1 draw.
Danielle Evans put the hosts ahead within nine minutes, but Celtic’s newest recruit Jade Crofts, who recently joined from Caldicot Town, levelled just after the half hour mark. Cwmbran keeper Alex Cridland was sent off in the second half, but Llanelli couldn’t capitalise on their advantage.
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