Cardiff City extend lead while Swansea City stumble – Adran Leagues round-up

We are one weekend closer to finding out how the Adran Premier will look come the end of phase one.

We had three top tier games on offer this weekend, along with two in the Adran North and one in the Adran South.

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

Adran Premier

We start this week at The Rock. Wrexham secured their spot in the top four last weekend and were now trying to keep up with the pace that was being set by Cardiff City. Their opponents this weekend were Pontypridd United. Ponty were still yet to win in the Adran Prem, and with the clock ticking, they knew they needed points and fast. They were all set to do that, but a late Wrexham show meant it was they who won 3-2.

As many would have expected, Steve Dale’s side started the strongest and created chances at will. Lili Jones hit the crossbar twice, while Klaudia Wojtyczka made excellent saves to deny Rosie Hughes and Carra Jones in what was a frantic opening half hour. For all of Wrexham’s pressure, it was Ponty who would take the lead. A corner caused problems in the Wrexham box, and in the end, Lauren Payne managed to fire the ball into the top corner to score her first goal for Ponty.

The Red Dragons must have been ruing all their missed chances, but they were thankful before the break as the found an equaliser. Carra Jones’ cross was met expertly by Hughes who powered home from close range. That was the striker’s first league goal since scoring away to Cardiff Met at the start of November.

Into the second half and neither side were able to establish themselves as the dominant force, but Ponty retook the lead with a moment of sheer brilliance. Jasmine Turner managed to find the back of the net from 40 yards with a free kick.

But back came Wrexham once again as they managed to find another equaliser. Not for the first time, Wojtyczka made a magnificent save to deny Hughes, but Carra Jones managed to latch onto the ball and convert the rebound.

With Wrexham in the ascendancy, you felt that if anyone was going to score a crucial winning goal it would be them, and so it proved with a minute to go. The mercurial Hughes collected a pass from Lili Jones, before rounding the keeper and tapping into an empty net. A big win for Wrexham, but they were given an almighty scare by Ponty.

After a thumping 4-0 win over Cardiff Met in midweek, Aberystwyth Town knew they had control of their own destiny as they looked to book their place in the top four. They made the trip to face Swansea City, who were looking rampant since the turn of the year. But the Swans’ winning start to 2024 came to an end, as Aber stole a point away from Llandarcy.

Chances fell to both sides early on as they tried to make their mark on the game. For the hosts, Katy Hosford saw her effort saved well by Margot Farnes, while for the visitors, Gwenllian Jones forced Chelsea Herbert into a good save.

But it was the top four chasing Seasiders who took the lead and in fine fashion too. From around 35-yards out, Niamh Duggan curled her free kick into the top corner. A stunning moment from a player who has improved immensely as the season as gone on.

Even though they were behind, Swansea were creating at will throughout the rest of the game as they tried to chase an equaliser. Hosford, Emily Thomas, and Jessica Williams all went close, while Stacey John-Davis had a goal ruled out for offside.

But Williams was to find the leveller eight minutes from time to salvage a point for the Swans. It could have been more late on, but Farnes made an astonishing save to deny Hosford. The point lifts Aber into fourth spot with one game to go, while Swansea stay second.

With their South Wales rivals dropping points, Cardiff City had a chance to extend their lead to eleven points at the top. They travelled to Jenner Park to take on a Barry Town team who had an outside chance of finishing in the top four. Despite a brave performance, Barry couldn’t put one over the Bluebirds, as the leaders came away with a 3-1 win.

A fast start for the champions led to two goals. First, Siobhan Walsh nodded in from a Seren Watkins corner before Mikayla Cook outmuscled her markers and sweep home the second midway through the half.

Barry grew as the half went on and pulled one back on the cusp of half time. Ceryn Chamberlain’s rash decision to come out of her goal was capitalised on by Taite Trivett, who could stroke the ball into an empty net.

With confidence now high amongst Linnets players and supporters, City struck back immediately to restore their two-goal lead before the break. Cook’s cross wasn’t cleared by the Barry defence, and it allowed Emma Beynon to slam home her first ever Cardiff goal.

The second half was far tamer with Barry restricting their opponents well, but they couldn’t grab any more goals. No shame for Barry, but for Cardiff, they march on towards the title.

Adran North

Y Felinheli kept up their impressive season and moved up to second in the table with a 4-1 win over NFA.

Things started badly for the Felin, as NFA took the lead through Mel Peake. But the home side responded well and were in the lead before the break with goals by Ffion Williams and Jenna Allsup.

Both Williams and Allsup scored another one each in the second half to wrap up a big win. Williams is in great form having scored six goals in her last three games, while Allsup has scored six in five games for a Felinheli team who are now three points off top of the table Llandudno. NFA are in fifth.

Elsewhere, Rhyl came out the victors in a thrilling game against Llanfair United, as they won 3-2 at Belle Vue.

The game was only six minutes old when Llanfair took the lead thanks to Harriet Davies. But Rhyl rallied back to lead going into the break with strikes from Llio Davies and Sade Benjamin, the latter now up to seven goals for the season.

Davies scored her second a minute into the second half, and while Llanfair pulled one back through Emma Williams, they couldn’t mount a comeback, as Rhyl stretch their advantage in fourth spot.

Adran South

In the sole Adran South game, Briton Ferry extended their lead at the top with a 6-0 away win against Llanelli Town.

To Llanelli’s credit, they held out Ferry with a solid defensive strategy for the opening half hour, but once Ferry got one, the floodgates opened. Fleur Jenkins opened the scoring with a finish from close range, before Laura-May Walkley slotted home five minutes later.

In the second half Rhys James’ side were in full control. Jenkins and Walkley added another one each to their tally, while Alison Witts also bagged a brace. It’s now 16 goals this season for Witts, making her the leading scorer across the Adran Leagues.

Briton Ferry are now five points clear of Cascade and have a game in hand. Llanelli stay in fifth.

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)