2024-25 Adran South predictions: Can Pontypridd United bounce straight back up?

The Adran South gets underway on Sunday afternoon, and there will be a new name on the trophy come April.

After Briton Ferry defeated Llandudno in the playoff final, this is a league that looks incredibly wide open, with any of the seven teams able to stake a claim for the title.

With that in mind, here are our predictions for the 2024-25 Adran South season.

CALDICOT TOWN

Last season: 6^th in Adran South

Caldicot Town made many signings at the start of last season, and there was a certain level of optimism around the club, but the season didn’t pan out like they thought it would.

Caldicot only picked up seven points from their twelve games, scoring eleven and conceding 32. When you look further and see their two wins came against Pontardawe Town and Llanelli Town, the two teams who finished around them, then you realise how difficult a season it was.

However, the club have been smart in this transfer window. They’ve addressed their need for a striker by bringing in Kennesha Nanette from Cardiff Met, while Rianne Jones will add a bit of dynamite at the top end of the field. This new look team were able to prove their attacking talents in their first game, where they beat Cascade 5-1 in the Adran Trophy.

Time will tell if this attack can keep scoring, while the defence also having to keep up their end of the bargain. It’s a very competitive league, but Caldicot should have more points this season than they did last time out.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 7^th

CASCADE

Last season: 2^nd in Adran South

Cascade have been the nearly women for so long in the second tier.

After finishing second in the 2022-23 season, the club yet again finished as runners-up last season behind the unstoppable Briton Ferry. No one was able to beat Ferry, but Cascade failed to beat Swansea University twice and drew to Cwmbran Celtic, a sign that the rest of the league are very much on their tail.

Cascade lost the services of the versatile Lauren Boyd in the window, but they have added some interesting pieces to their team. Clare Daley will provide some veteran experience in the defence, Megan Waite has come over from Cardiff City’s highly successful U19 team, while Vickie Stratton and Olivia Townsend will provide a lot of competition.

They lost badly to Caldicot in their first game in the Adran Trophy but nicked three points in their second game against Llanelli Town, thanks to a 94^th minute winner. It could be a tricky season for Cascade, especially as other sides have strengthened well.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 3^rd

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CWMBRAN CELTIC

Last season: 3^rd in Adran South

It’s very rare that a newly promoted team catapult themselves into a title race, but that’s what Cwmbran Celtic did last season.

James Kinsella’s side took so many in the second tier by surprise and recorded a series of surprising results against some well-established sides. Drawing with Cascade, beating Swansea University, and almost beating Briton Ferry. Celtic have an incredibly strong spine which includes Eloise Meaney and Jade Crofts, and with a good mix of experience and youth, Celtic already had a team that was ready to compete.

It’s been an interesting transfer window too for the club. Midfielder Katie Williams joins from Pontypridd United, Lauren Boyd comes over from rivals Cascade, while Grace O’Reilly and Amie Preston will be looking to showcase their talents in the second tier. And after a surprising Adran Trophy defeat to Penybont, they bounced back by beating Pontypridd United away from home.

There is a sense that this could well be THE season for Cwmbran Celtic. Everything seems to have clicked, the squad has gelled incredibly well, and their name could well be on the trophy come the end of the season.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 1^st

Cwmbran Celtic aiming for another historic Adran South season

LLANELLI TOWN

Last season: 5^th in Adran South

Perhaps no team have had quite as interesting an off-season as Llanelli Town.

After finishing fifth in their first season in the second tier, the club announced their move to a semi-pro model, the first team in the Adran North or South to do so. The move is a great step for Llanelli and will certainly help them improve from last season’s performance, where they scored seven goals in eleven league games.

Plenty of transfers have been made to try and push the club on. Meghan Roles and Celyn Barnett have come across from Pontardawe, Megan Davies joins from Bridgwater, while Morven Montgomery comes to the club from Scottish side Ayr United. In their first two Adran Trophy games, Llanelli have drawn one and lost one.

Everything going on in West Wales is incredibly positive, and it is easy to see the club is moving in the right direction. This season, however, might be a stepping stone, before the club really go to the next level the season after.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 6^th

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PENYBONT

Last season: 2^nd in SWWGL Women Combined (Promoted)

Despite failing to win the third tier, Penybont have been promoted to the Adran South, and they are not here to waste time.

During the window, Bont have been able to bring in young players who have had some experience in the Adran Premier, to try and propel them into the upper echelons of the south. Defender Leah Samuel along with Casey Daniels come from Cardiff Met, Poppi Coggins joins from Barry Town, while Charlie Prosser comes over from Pontypridd United.

These new faces mixed in with some exciting existing talent make this an intriguing squad. Influential captain Maddie Priday can score and assist, while striker Katie Richards is a pure finisher, having found the back of the net 43 times in 24 games. They also got off to the perfect start in the Adran Trophy, beating Cwmbran Celtic 3-2 away from home.

The question is, can Penybont keep this energy going all the way through until April? If they can, then they could be very difficult to stop once they get going.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 4^th

Penybont aiming to shock Adran South after promotion

PONTYPRIDD UNITED

Last season: 8^th in Adran Premier (Relegated)

No side has had as much change as Pontypridd United this summer.

After their relegation from the topflight, many experienced players departed the club, including Jasmine Turner, Ellie Gunney, Holly Broad, and Adran Premier Goalkeeper of the Season Klaudia Wojtyczka. The only real senior players to have stayed at the club are Shannon Hindmarsh and Lucy Jones, and the two of them have seen an incredible turnover.

This is a side that is all about promoting youth. A few of them gained Adran Premier experience at the back end of last season, including Nicole Fenton and Ffion Simmonds, but the majority are experiencing their first full season with the senior team. They began their Adran Trophy campaign with a 4-0 win over Cambrian United, before falling to a 5-4 defeat at the hands of Cwmbran Celtic.

This is undoubtedly a talented side, and Claire O’Sullivan is an excellent manager to guide them through. But can this young team play beyond their years and guide the club back to the Adran Premier? It might be an order too tall for them this year.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 2^nd

Pontypridd United aiming to shut down negative talk after relegation

SWANSEA UNIVERSITY

Last season: 4^th in Adran South

Swansea University had a season last year that really went under the radar.

The Students only lost three games all season, two of which came against Briton Ferry, while the other occurred at home to Cwmbran Celtic. Apart from those three, there were plenty of standout results. A home win over Cascade, a 5-0 thumping of Llanelli Town, and a 3-3 draw away to the afore mentioned Celtic.

As ever with university sides, there is normally a high turnover of players every season, and two of last season’s starters, Freya Sullivan and Emily Illet, have left the club. However, what this team has shown is that they can deal with changes and still be a competitive outfit, and that means they will be a threat to everyone this year.

They’ve had an unbeaten start to their Adran Trophy campaign, and all the signs are pointing towards a good season. They will pick up some eye-catching results, but the championship might be out of their grasp this season.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 5^th

CLWB PÊL-DROED ADRAN SOUTH PREDICTIONS

1. Cwmbran Celtic
2. Pontypridd United
3. Cascade
4. Penybont
5. Swansea University
6. Llanelli Town
7. Caldicot Town

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)