Wrexham and Swansea City keep pressure on Cardiff City

For the first time in what’s felt like an age, the top two divisions were back in action this weekend.

Apart from Cwmbran Celtic and Coed Duon, all other teams played on Sunday, and there were certainly some surprising results.

Let’s take a look back at the week that was.

Adran Premier

We start at Park Hall. Leaders Cardiff City are rapidly approaching a major milestone; two years without a league defeat. It would be a majorly impressive achievement, but standing in their way this weekend was TNS, a team who certainly on their day can be difficult for any opposition. That wasn’t the case Sunday, as the Bluebirds raced to a 6-0 win.

With both teams making a good start, it was City who struck the first blow midway through the first half. Seren Watkins’ corner fell to Meg Bowen, who fired into the back of the net. Numerous chances came and went for the Blues during the half, but Mackenzie Haydn-Jones did a fine job at keeping the deficit at one heading into the break.

Despite a strong performance in goal, City’s quality shone through in the second half. A calm Eliza Collie finish, a Seren Watkins penalty, a brilliant Molly Kehoe goal, a smart finish from Tija Richardson and a first league goal for Madison Lloyd wrapped up a comfortable and professional win for the Bluebirds, who maintain their position at the top of the table. TNS stay fourth.

Next to Llandarcy. Since losing to the Bluebirds, Swansea City have been putting together a good run, and they were looking to continue putting pressure on the league leaders. Their opponents were Cardiff Met, who sealed an important victory over Pontypridd in midweek. There wasn’t to be a second win for the Archers this week, as the Swans recorded a 3-0 win.

From the off, Chris Church’s side looked at their creative best, but they couldn’t seem to put the ball in the back of the net. Katy Hosford found the side netting and hit the post, Sammy Wynne fired just over the bar, and Lucy Finch forced a good save out of Carys Gittins. Robyn Pinder even had the ball in the net, only for the offside to diffuse the celebrations early. It was certainly a half full of frustration.

But those frustrations were eased early into the second half, as the home side finally broke the deadlock. Ellie Lake made a strong challenge before feeding the ball through to Pinder, who hit a jaw dropping shot into the top corner.

From then, the Swans never looked back, as they scored another two to wrap up all three points. Hosford guided Chloe Chivers’ cross into the goal before she added her second a few minutes later; Lake getting another assist in the process.

Back up north we go and this time to The Rock. In the reverse fixture, Wrexham defeated Barry Town United 5-0, with Rosie Hughes scoring all five. The Red Dragons were without Hughes this time, but the outcome stayed the same, just, as Wrexham won 1-0.

Barry certainly offered more of an attacking threat in this meeting compared to the first, and a large part of that was down to new signing Danielle Broadhurst, who controlled large parts of the midfield. The Linnets did fashion out the best chance of the half when Chloe Tiley tried a shot from distance, but Del Morgan made a tremendous save.

Wrexham came forward more as the second half wore on, and they would finally have a goal midway through the second period. A TJ Dickens corner found the rising head of Ava Suckley, and the ball somehow managed to sneak into the goal.

Another new Barry signing, Catherine Walsh, almost found a late equaliser, but the ball bounced out at the far post. Certainly, a performance full of positives for Barry, but for Wrexham, it’s a very important win.

Finally, we go to the Valleys. Pontypridd United came close to getting their first points of the campaign against Met on Wednesday, bit they narrowly lost out. Up against them this time were Aberystwyth Town, and games between these two are never straightforward. This meeting was no different, as Aber snatched a last gasp equaliser to draw 1-1.

Ponty started well and they were handed a golden opportunity to go ahead from the penalty spot, as an Aber player handled the ball from a corner. Up stepped Jasmine Turner, and she sent Margot Farnes the wrong way to put the Dragons ahead.

The Seasiders responded by creating chances, but they couldn’t find a goal. Lily Moralee-Hughes missed from a couple yards out, while Klaudia Wojtyczka clawed Niamh Duggan’s corner off the line. At the break, Pontypridd held a rare lead.

Into the second half, and the home side controlled the game. Wanting to press and create chances, they pushed and pushed to find a second goal, but they couldn’t find the final pass or the final shot.

How they would rue that, as out of nowhere, Aber equalised in the final minute. The ball fell to Rebecca Mathias, who took a touch before firing the ball in from 30-yards out. A stunner for the away side, but a dagger through the heart of Ponty. Their first point of the season, but it will feel like a defeat.

Adran North

Connah’s Quay were yet to lose a game in the Adran North and were looking pretty at the top of the table. But they suffered a shock home defeat at the hands of Y Felinheli, who came away from the Deeside Stadium with a 4-0 win.

There was only one star of this show, and that was Ffion Williams. The forward scored a first half hat-trick, before adding her and Felin’s fourth with 20 minutes to go. A magnificent result for the away side, who have a game in hand on the sides above them. But how will the Nomads recover from this out of character defeat?

Replacing Connah’s Quay at the top of the table are Llandudno, who themselves picked up a 4-0 win over Rhyl.

Rhyl defended well for large swathes of the first half, but their hard work was undone with eight minutes remaining of the first period, as Shona Roberts got herself on the scoresheet for the first time this season.

Dudno were able to get more of a foothold in the game in the second half, as they added another three goals to their tally. Maddie Williams, Sofie Owen, and Kelsey Davies all chipped in to guide their team back to the top.

There was a moment to remember for Llanfair United this weekend, as they picked up their first win of the season; 1-0 over NFA.

The only goal came halfway through the second half, coming through 16-year-old Becky Jones, her first goal of the season. As a result, Llanfair move off the bottom of the table.

Another side who picked up a 1-0 win this weekend was Bangor, who beat Airbus.

Ella Jones’ strike 13 minutes into the game settled proceedings, as Bangor push towards the top half. Airbus, on the other hand, drop to the bottom of the Adran North.

Adran South

Briton Ferry continue to dominate the Adran South, as they picked up a 3-0 home win over Caldicot Town.

Caldicot looked to sit back and frustrate Ferry, and for the majority of the first half, that plan seemed to be working a treat. But the home side would break the blue barricade down with five minutes of the half remaining; Laura-May Walkley rounding the keeper and applying a calm finish.

Walkley would add her and her team’s second soon into the second half, as she converted from an Alison Witts cross. Lowri Baker killed the game off from close range, as Ferry kept yet another clean sheet this season.

The two teams directly behind Ferry are Cascade and Swansea University, and they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Ystrad Mynach. A frantic first half saw three goals scored. Lauren Boyd’s early opener was cancelled out by Hannah Pinney, only for Ellis Lunn to put Cascade back in front.

It certainly looked like Cascade would hold on, but the University side found an equaliser 15 minutes from time through American Kailey Walters.

Our final game takes us to Parc Ynysderw, as Llanelli Town moved into the top half of the Adran South by picking up a 1-0 win away at Pontardawe Town.

Stacey Webber scored the game’s only goal in the 22^nd minute, taking her tally to nine goals in all competitions. It makes it back-to-back wins for Llanelli, while it’s three defeats on the bounce for Pontardawe.

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)