Cardiff City set up title decider against Swansea City – Adran Leagues roundup

This week we took a step closer to knowing how each team will finish their seasons.

Some big results across the country led to big consequences, especially in the Adran Premier. While there were goals galore in the Adran North and South.

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

Adran Premier – Championship Group

We start this week at the STōK Cae Ras. Over 2000 made their way into one of the best theatres in Wales to watch a Wrexham team who weren’t in the best form. They hadn’t won either of their games in phase two and coupled with a draw with Cardiff Met to end phase one, Steve Dale’s side hadn’t won in three games. Opponents Swansea City travelled north in the knowledge that they needed to win to keep up hopes of regaining the title. In a game that twisted one way and then the other, the Swans ran out 3-2 winners.

From the off the game was open and frantic with both going close. It will come as no shock to hear the player who went the closest for Wrexham was Rosie Hughes. Her clever back heel in the box almost sneaked into the goal, but it was cleared off the line by Jess Williams. But their luck would run out shortly after, and how! Lili Jones latched onto a loose ball and launched a mesmeric chip over Chelsea Herbert from 40-yards. A goal befitting any occasion.

That lead didn’t last long, however, as Keren Allen brought down Robyn Pinder in the area; penalty awarded. Pinder picked herself up and dispatched the ball into the bottom corner. Swansea ended the half strongly, but heading into the break, they were level.

Momentum swung back towards Wrexham at the beginning of the second half and they almost went back ahead through Brooke Cairns, but Herbert did well to thwart her. And how Swansea would capitalise on that, as they took the lead for the first time in the afternoon. Monet Legall strode onto a loose ball and lashed home, with the aid of the underside of the crossbar.

Now in the ascendency, Swansea were looking to go for the jugular. They almost stretched their advantage further through Emily Thomas, but Del Morgan rushed out to make a crucial save. Instead of the Swans finding a third goal, it was Wrexham who would find a second. The inevitable Hughes rose highest from a corner, and now heading into the final ten minutes, you felt anything could happen.

But sometimes in these fixtures, you’ll have one player who just seems to thrive against an opponent. That player for Swansea is Ellie Lake. Having scored the winner when these two played at the Swansea.com Stadium, she found the golden goal away from home, as her cross deceived Morgan and flew into the net. An important win for the visitors, but for Wrexham, it’s no win in four.

To West Wales now. The task was becoming simpler by the week for Cardiff City. Win, and the title will be theirs with games to spare. Up against them this week were Aberystwyth Town, who hadn’t played a game since losing to the Bluebirds on the first weekend of phase two. It was to be another City win on Sunday, as they prevailed 2-0.

While we didn’t see any goals in the first half, there was plenty for fans to enjoy. For Aber, the pacey Lleucu Mathias found a gap in the defence, but the ball fell the wrong side of the post from a Seasiders perspective.

For the Bluebirds, Rhianne Oakley forced Sophie Steele into a fine save, while Eliza Collie couldn’t find the back of the net from inside the area. 0-0 at the break.

At the start of the season, Aber held City to a goalless draw in Leckwith, and the longer the game went on, the more you thought that result could be on again. However, with 20 minutes left on the clock, the away side’s pressure finally paid off. Ffion Price put in an inviting free kick, and there to finish was Mikayla Cook, who showed great composure to find the opener.

After finding the all-important first goal, momentum was well and truly with Cardiff. They started to pile on the pressure in an attempt to add their tally, but it took them until the 88^th minute to get it. Seren Watkins has really added goals to her game this season, and she added her seventh of the campaign with a fine finish. No shame for Aberystwyth, who put in a good performance to frustrate the leaders for large parts of the 90 minutes.

As far as Cardiff City are concerned, they have a chance to win the league on Wednesday night. Defeat Swansea City at home, and they will retain the Adran Premier.

Adran Premier – Plate Conference

To say things were looking bleak for TNS would be an understatement. The Saints hadn’t won in their last seven outings, and things needed to turn around quickly if they wanted to win the Plate. Visiting Park Hall this weekend were Cardiff Met, who started phase two with two draws. But Sunday was a day for the Green and White Army to celebrate, as they picked up a crucial 3-1 win.

Greg Draper’s side made a strong start to the game and had chances to score through Chantelle Teare, but she was twice denied by Carys Gittins in the Met net. At the other end, Emily Bayliss took aim from 20-yards out, but the ball sailed wide. But it wasn’t long before the Archers did take the lead, as Chelsea Cochrane’s shot was deflected into the goal.

When TNS have gone behind in the past, they haven’t been able to get back into the game, but they managed to get a leveller very soon after the opener. Captain Beth Lewis sent in a dangerous cross, and there to meet it was Teare, who converted from close range. Just as it looked like the scores would be level heading into the break, the Saints edged ahead. Mel Barlow saw an opportunity to strike from outside the box, and she grabbed it with two hands, sending the ball into the bottom corner.

Into the second half and the home side managed to find the third and decisive goal less than ten minutes into it. Nicole Samson’s low cross into the box turned in by Teare, who once again found the bottom corner. It could have been more for TNS, but they saw the game out in a very professional manner to get their plate ambitions back on track.

Last weekend, Pontypridd United’s relegation to the Adran South was confirmed. However, since Christmas, the Dragons have been trending in an upward direction. Barry Town came to Treforest aiming to cement themselves at the top of the plate conference. Those hopes were dented, as Pontypridd picked up their first league win of the season, prevailing 2-1.

After being under the cosh, Ponty took the lead out of nowhere. Shannon Hindmarsh’s perfectly weighted through ball found the run of Erin Murray, who chipped the ball beautifully over the keeper. That was her first goal since joining the club from Met. Two minutes later, they had a second. Barry couldn’t deal with Mia Sherrard’s cross, and it allowed Madison Williams to stride onto the ball and finesse home.

Holding a rare lead at the break, the Dragons started the second half well, but shot themselves in the foot as they conceded a penalty; Klaudia Wojtyczka committing a foul on Danielle Broadhurst. Up stepped Aimee Deacon, who made no mistake with her spot kick.

Barry almost got themselves level just a handful of minutes later, but Hana Bennett’s long-range strike cannoned off the crossbar. The Linnets tried to press and get level, but they couldn’t break Ponty down. Even when Hindmarsh was sent off in the final minutes, they looked unfazed, and saw the game out to pick up their first three points of the season.

Adran North

Llandudno secured the Adran North title away to Felinheli last weekend, and now back on home soil, they lifted the trophy in style by dismantling NFA 10-0.

There were just three minutes on the clock when Dudno took the lead through Ella Jones, and before they reached the half hour mark, Maddie Williams scored two to take their tally up to three for the day already. Before the half was over, Jones completed her brace, and there was two for Kelsey Davies, as the champions had a six-goal advantage at the break.

Into the second half, and while there weren’t as many goal, the dominance of the hosts continued. Davies completed her hat-trick, Rebecca Jarvis-Evans got one, and there was a double for league top scorer Stevie Donougher. Llandudno’s next game will be the playoff against Briton Ferry. NFA remain in fifth.

In the other Adran North game, Connah’s Quay picked up a 3-0 win away to Llanfair United.

Aimee Redfern scored the only goal in the first half, but early in the second, Sophie Rawling added number two for the Nomads. A Wales U17 international, Rawling has only played five games in the Adran North, but has scored seven and assisted three. It will be interesting to see what happens to her next season.

Alisha Whitehead-Hughes scored a third in stoppage time to seal the win, as Connah’s Quay look to finish second once again this season.

Adran South

Champions Briton Ferry maintained their 100% league record with a 4-2 win over Pontardawe Town.

Alison Witts is the top scorer across each of the three divisions this season, and she continued her scoring spree by bagging the first goal of the game after eight minutes. But, for one of the only times this season, the leaders were pegged back, as Keira Harris found a leveller. That lifeline for Pontardawe was wiped out, however, just before the break, as Fleur Jenkins struck.

Jenkins made life even more comfortable for Rhys James’ side seven minutes into the second half, as she hit her second of the game. And the cherry was put on top of the cake after the hour mark, when Witts took her tally to 18 goals for the season. Catryn Cook did pull one back four minutes before the end, but it wasn’t enough for Pontardawe, who stay bottom.

Cwmbran Celtic’s hopes of finishing second were boosted as they beat Caldicot Town 4-0.

A quiet first half only yielded one goal, and that came through captain Eloise Meaney. But in the second half, Celtic found their feet and really got into their groove. There was a double for Cerys Shipley, while Alex-Marie Bond hit the fourth with six minutes to spare.

Cwmbran will secure a second-place finish in their first season in the Adran South if they defeat Briton Ferry in their final game of the season.

Finally, Swansea University made it back-to-back wins in the league with a 5-0 thumping over Llanelli Town.

American Kailey Walters scored the only goal of the first half, but as soon as the second half started, Freya Davies extended the lead. After the hour mark, the floodgates really opened. Elizabeth Ferrar, Charley Haynes, and Jessica Goucher all found the net for the student side to seal a big win.

Swansea confirm a fourth-place finish for this season, while Llanelli seal a fifth-place finish in their debut season in the Adran South.

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)