After last week’s Adran Trophy semi-finals, it was time to setup another final, as we watched the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup unfold.
Along with the Welsh Cup, the top three all played in the Adran North, while there was a basement battle in the Adran South.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
We begin at the SDM Glass Stadium, home of Penybont. The last time Cardiff City played Swansea City; the Swans ended the Bluebirds’ almost two-year unbeaten league run. Now, with a place in the Welsh Cup final up for grabs, this was one of the biggest games in recent South Wales derby memory. Come four o’clock, it was Cardiff who were celebrating, as they ran out 3-1 winners.
A quick start resulted in two goals, the first of which came in the way of the reigning Welsh Cup champions. Siobhan Walsh’s header found Mikayla Cook, who showed calmness inside the box before guiding the ball into the bottom corner. Minutes later the scores were level. Robyn Pinder’s through ball cut open the Cardiff defence, allowing Stacey John-Davis to run on the end of it and finesse the ball home.
Chances were mounting up for both teams for the remainder of the half. Cook looked set to have a shot on goal, only for Sophie Brisland-Hancocks to make an incredible goal saving tackle. At the other end, Sammy Wynne’s wicked cross just evaded Pinder in the box. A thrilling half, and the game was in the balance.
The second half proved far cagier, with both knowing how much a win would mean. As the clock ticked down, the Bluebirds began to apply pressure. Captain Walsh thought she had scored, but Ellie Lake cleared her header off the line.
As we entered the final five minutes, Cardiff finally found a way through. A mix up at the back between Jessica Williams and Chelsea Herbert was capitalised on by Molly Kehoe, who struck the ball into an empty net. It’s the second time this season the forward has scored in a derby; she simply thrives for the big occasions.
The cherry was put on top of the cake in stoppage time, as Meg Bowen nodded home from a corner, as she herself kept up her remarkable goal scoring run. The Bluebirds into the final and are now chasing a third consecutive Welsh Cup.
To Flint now where the other semi-final took place, and it was another derby. There is no love lost between Wrexham and TNS, as was found out in their last Adran Premier game, and this contest was always going to be tight and tense. But it was Wrexham who came out on top, snatching a 1-0 win.
While the first half didn’t produce as many opportunities as the first semi-final, there were still sighters for both teams. Rosie Hughes couldn’t finish after some good work from Amber Lightfoot down the wing, while Helen Evans saw her header cleared off the line by Phoebe Davies.
We even had the rare free kick from inside the area after TNS keeper Ellie Suckley handled a back pass, but again, Wrexham failed to take advantage.
But in big games, you need your big players to step up, and Rosie Hughes produced the moment the Red Dragons fans had been hoping for right on the cusp of half time, as she slotted home after Carra Jones’ shot was deflected.
Much of the second half was fought in the midfield with neither team able to gain a clear stronghold, but as the game wore on, it was TNS who were looking the most likely to score.
Everything good thing for Greg Draper’s side was coming through Evans, but on each occasion, Del Morgan thwarted her. Whether that be a header or a free kick, Morgan was not allowing anything past her goal.
Into stoppage time and it was Wrexham who almost scored a second, but Lightfoot hit the post. But it need not matter, as they held on to reach their first Welsh Cup final since 2008. A remarkable achievement for the playoff winners.
Cardiff City will face off against Wrexham in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup on Sunday May 5th. Kick off time and venue are yet to be announced.
Adran North
The title race in the Adran North is set to go down to the wire. In pole position are Llandudno, who stretched their winning run to seven games with an 8-3 win away to Llanfair United.
The game actually started in surprising fashion, as second from bottom Llanfair took the lead 15 minutes in through captain Mary Bailey. But Dudno responded in fine fashion, scoring four goals in the space of 14 minutes to go into the break 4-1 up. A double for Ffion Owen, along with a goal each for Jasmin Dutton and Kelsey Davies setting them in a comfortable position.
For all their dominance at the end of the first half, the Seasiders stumbled and allowed Llanfair back into the game. Goals from Emma Williams and Becky Jones brought the game back to 4-3, and once again, a shock was on the cards.
But Dudno rallied back to build on their advantage and seal a big win. Davies completed her hat-trick, Dutton scored from the spot to bag a brace, while Maddie Williams added an eighth deep into stoppage time to keep the visitors top of the table.
Hot on their heels are Y Felinheli, who also made it seven wins in a row with a 6-1 home victory over Rhyl.
The first ten minutes resulted in two goals for the home side: one coming through Ffion Williams, and the other through Nel Huws. While the rest of the first half would go by without any more goals, Felin didn’t waste time in adding more at the start of the second. Huws found her second, while Catrin Evans converted a penalty.
Huws was having a field day and completed her hat-trick four minutes before the final whistle. Rebecca Bannister did score a consolation for Rhyl in the 94th minute, but three minutes later, Williams scored her second and Felinheli’s sixth to round out a big win.
The third team in the title race are Connah’s Quay, and they kept pace with the top two with a 3-1 away win over NFA.
There was another quick start in this game, with Kylie Jones scoring a sixth minute penalty, but NFA equalised on the half hour mark through Jessica Mills.
They would only be level for three minutes, as Sophie Rawling put the Nomads back in front. This was only Rawling’s second game in the Adran North, but the Wales U17 international already has five goals and two assists.
Anais Bathily scored on the hour mark to make sure of the win, but if Connah’s Quay want to win the league title, they’ll be requiring on other games to go their way.
Adran South
In the sole Adran South game, Pontardawe Town recorded their first league win of the season, defeating Caldicot Town 2-1.
Not for the first time this season, Pontardawe went behind, as Lucy McDonough put Caldicot ahead. That was the former Bluebird’s third goal in eight appearances this season.
However, at the start of the second half, Ponty responded and got themselves level through the ever-reliable Renee Day. Four minutes later, all three points were sealed, as Keira Harris made it 2-1. Pontardawe remain bottom, but now trail Caldicot on goal difference.
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