The rain claimed a host of victims in the Adran Leagues, but there was still entertainment galore in the remaining fixtures.
It was certainly a pivotal weekend at the top of various tables, and there was also a clash in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Adran Premier
We begin this roundup with the late kick off of the day. 3,859 packed into the Swansea.com Stadium for a contest that could have huge ramifications for the rest of the season. After defeat in the South Wales Derby a few weeks ago, Swansea City were in slight danger of losing sight of the Bluebirds, as they came into this game third in the table. The team directly above them, Wrexham, were their opponents, and if they could get a win, a title race between them and Cardiff City looked well and truly on. When the final whistle blew though, it was the home side who would be celebrating, as they came from behind to win 2-1.
As soon as the game kicked off, Swansea seized control. Robyn Pinder, Stacey John-Davis, and Katy Hosford all went close, but a combination of good blocks from the Wrexham defence and good saves from Del Morgan kept the scores level. And how the Red Dragons took advantage, as they scored against the run of play to take the lead. Some slack Swans defending led to Amber Lightfoot robbing the ball in the box. Her shot was saved by Claire Skinner, but Carra Jones was there to sweep in from close range.
The white wave of pressure continued instantly after the goal, but whatever Swansea tried, the ball wouldn’t go in. Heading into the break, Wrexham were in possession of a priceless lead. Chris Church’s side weren’t deterred after the break, and ten minutes after the restart, they were level. Ellie Lake drove into space outside the box, before hitting a low drive into the bottom corner. Lake was sent off in the corresponding fixture, but now she was the star of the show.
Robyn Pinder minutes later thought she had found the goal to take Swansea ahead, but the offside flag ruined her joy. But the players and fans were able to celebrate a legitimate goal after the hour mark. Nieve Jenkins’ dinked pass was latched onto by Hosford, and she powered the ball into the back of the net. Cue wild celebrations.
Swansea saw the game out in a thoroughly professional manner to capture all three points. The win sees them level on points with Wrexham, and the footballing rivalry between these two has taken another big step forward.
Earlier in the day, Cardiff City knew a win for them coupled with Wrexham dropping points would see them build on their lead over them. The Bluebirds had only dropped points once all season so far, and their unbeaten run was rapidly approaching a two-year span. Opponents Cardiff Met had only won two games in the opening half of the season: a far cry from their title winning teams. Their bad form continued, as City strolled to a 3-0 win.
The home side were in control from the off and had a handful of chances early on, but Carys Gittins in the Archers net made a couple of fine saves. But there was nothing she could do on the half hour mark as City took the lead. After scoring a few goals in cup competitions, Mackenzie Olden bagged her first league goal, as she finished neatly into the bottom corner.
The good momentum continued right at the beginning of the second half. Meg Bowen played the ball out wide to Seren Watkins, and the midfielder executed a fine finish to double the lead. Met hardly threatened all game, and the final nail in the coffin came in the final few minutes. After Eliza Collie was brought down in the box, Watkins stepped up to seal her brace and City’s third. They now have a six-point lead at the top of the table, and it’s difficult to see when they’ll lose a game currently.
Down at Jenner Park, there was a meeting between two sides where three points would mean different things. For Barry Town United, it would move them further away from the relegation zone, establishing a nine-point gap between themselves and Pontypridd United. For Aberystwyth Town, after a three-game losing streak, a win on the south coast would move them back into the top four, and so they did; Aber coming out on top 2-0.
Some would describe the conditions as very Welsh; windy, a bit of rain, cold, and it certainly had an effect on both teams’ style of play. However, after a ten-minute stoppage due to an injury sustained by Bethan Roberts, Aber scored two goals in four minutes. Firstly, Lleucu Mathias managed to bundle in Gwenllian Jones’ cross, before four minutes later, she finished off a one-on-one chance like a player beyond her years.
Barry did come close on a couple of occasions either side of the break, but the goal eluded them. Aimee Deacon hitting the post the best chance of the game for them. The rest of the half was dominated by Aber; defensively sound and organised, they saw the game out in a professional manner. A crucial three points in their top four bid.
Adran North
At the Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay returned to the Adran North summit, as they dispatched NFA 5-2. Remarkably, six of the seven goals came in the first half. There was two for Sophie Hodson, one for Alisha Wright, and a goal for Mel Barlow. Barlow’s goal a particular highlight, as she scored a stunning free kick.
NFA did get on the scoresheet through Georgia Williams and Jessica Mills, but they would trail 4-2 at half time. Ten minutes into the second half and the scoring was complete, as Hodson finished off her goal scoring exploits with a hat-trick. The Nomads are yet to lose a game in the Adran North and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Elsewhere, Rhyl propelled themselves into third place, after a 3-1 win at home against Airbus. It was a good first half from the Lilywhites, as goals from Laura Williams and Rebecca Bannister had them in a comfortable lead at the break.
Rather predictably, club top scorer Sade Benjamin got the team’s third shortly after the hour mark to put them three in front. Laura Pratt did score five minutes from time for the Wingmakers, but it was nothing more than a consolation, as they remain in fifth place.
Adran South
Cascade moved themselves to the top of the Adran South, as they picked up a 6-0 win at home against Llanelli Town. Cascade were presented with the perfect opportunity to go ahead from the penalty spot, and Daisy Evan-Watkins duly obliged to put them in front. Goals from Lauren Boyd and Annaliese Lewis in the first half had the hosts three up at the break.
The scoring spree would continue in the second half. Ellis Lunn, Phoebe Ware, and Melissa James all getting on the scoresheet, as Cascade had six different goal scorers in their resounding win. Llanelli remain in fifth.
In a meeting of two of the league’s most impressive sides so far this season, Cwmbran Celtic recorded an important 2-1 win away at Swansea University to leapfrog them in the table into third.
Georgia Shwartz’s goal eight minutes in had them ahead, as they took a slender one goal lead into the break, but a goal from new recruit Jade Crofts early in the second half gave Celtic some room to breathe. They would be pegged back as Angelika Barris scored with 20 minutes remaining, but Cwmbran held out for another superb win.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
Briton Ferry survived a scare as they booked their place in the last eight of the Welsh Cup, as they overcame Pontardawe Town 2-1.
Pontardawe had lost their opening game of the season 11-0 against Ferry, but took the lead on their own patch, as captain Catyrn Cook scored a sublime free kick. There was certainly an air of shock in the Ferry camp, but they did manage to equalise before half time; Alison Witts flicking the ball into the path of Lowri Ridings who applied the finish.
Now with a goal under their belts, Ferry went for it more at the beginning of the second half. Meg Kearle, Laura-May Walkley, and Lowri Baker all going close, but they couldn’t find a goal. As the game looked set to head to penalties, Ferry struck. Fleur Jenkins showed great skill and composure to take the ball down on her chest before firing the ball past Celyn Barnett. Ferry will be away to Wrexham in the quarter finals.
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