Quite simply, yesterday was a day full of drama and shocks across the Adran Premier.
Big games and big talking points dominated proceedings in the top tier, and alongside all of that, we also had the final games in the Adran Trophy group stages.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Adran Premier
We begin this week down at Leckwith. Cardiff City suffered a bruising South Wales derby defeat at the hands of Swansea City last time out, and they needed to find a way to bounce back. Perhaps a visit from Briton Ferry wasn’t the ideal way to do so, especially as Ferry have looked imperious since their return to the Adran Premier. It was nervy, but a late late City show saw them salvage a point and draw 2-2 with the league leaders.
After a frantic opening, the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead, as Laura-May Walkley was fouled in the box, meaning the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Lucy Powell, but Ceryn Chamberlain was equal to it. It wouldn’t be long, however, until Ferry did take the lead, as Lowri Ridings headed home from Powell’s corner, and the leaders headed back into the dressing room ahead.
Their day got even better just after the hour mark, as they doubled their lead. Alison Witts has had a sensational start to the season, and she continued her hot streak, as she slotted home after being played through by Laura-May Walkley.
Yet, when you’re back-to-back champions, you have a certain mentality, and the Bluebirds roared their way back into the game with ten minutes remaining, as Eliza Collie finished from Lisa Owen’s cross. Chance after chance fell City’s way, but for the longest time, it looked like they wouldn’t take any of them. But cometh the hour, cometh the moment, as Collie rescued a last gasp point for the Bluebirds.
For Ferry, the fact that they are so disappointed with this result shows how far this team have come in such a short space of time. For those wondering if this start is just a phase, I think they got their answer on Sunday. This team is a huge contender for the title.
As far as City are concerned, it is worth remembering how much this team have changed. Seren Watkins and Rhianne Oakley have moved on, Siobhan Walsh and Emma Beynon have retired, while Hannah Power is unavailable. That’s five of last season’s starters gone, and they were all key components. Losing that many influential players is difficult, no matter how good you are, and it will be interesting to see how Iain Darbyshire adapts his team as a result.
To Llandarcy now. Swansea City were on a high after beating the champions, while their opponents TNS were coming off a draw to Briton Ferry and couldn’t capitalise on the fact they had a centre-back in goal during the second half. But no one could have predicted the outcome of this one, as the Saints ran out 5-0 winners.
TNS made a lightning start to the contest. Caitlin Chapman dispossessed Nia Jones, and her cross turned shot looped over Opal Rayner and into the back of the net. Moments later, the lead had doubled, as Chantelle Teare darted into the box and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The Saints had never won at Llandarcy before, but they were already on the cusp of something special.
Swansea did try to find a way back into the game, but Danielle Broadhurst and Lucy Finch couldn’t guide their strikes past Becca Elliott. How they would rue those missed chances, as the away side found a third before the break. Chapman’s cross found Teare, who headed home with ease.
Jamie Sherwood’s side looked stunned, and as they tried to work their way back into the tie, they couldn’t get past a stout Saints defence. With the back line keeping their end of the deal, the attack kept theirs, as they scored another two before the final whistle. Maria Francis-Jones scored her first in Saints colours, before Teare completed her hat-trick with a stunner from 30-yards out.
A statement win for TNS, but how Swansea respond will be an interesting story.
Cardiff Met 0-0 Aberystwyth Town: Goalless draw for Adran Premier’s bottom two
Down on the south coast, Barry Town looked like a team in form. Nine goals in two games had them knocking on the door of the top four. Opponents Wrexham picked up their first win of the season away to Aberystwyth Town last time out, but they weren’t going to pick up another three points here, as Barry edged out a 1-0 win.
Wrexham looked like the better team in the first half but couldn’t direct the ball into the back of the net. Carra Jones hit the side netting, Brooke Cairns couldn’t quite get her foot on the end of a cross, while Abbie Iddenden was denied by Molly Arnesen.
But Barry came out with more of a swagger about them in the second period and began to create chances. Jasmine Turner had an effort saved superbly by Lizzie Craven, who kept Wrexham in it. Back came the Red Dragons, and they thought they had the opener, but Keren Allen saw her shot cleared off the line.
The game would change on that, as two minutes after coming on, Erin Lovett was shown a straight red card, after the referee judged the defender to be the last player back. Barry capitalised on their player advantage minutes later, as substitute Ellie Preece found the opener, and the only goal of the game.
A third win in a row for Barry, who are really proving why some have touted them for a top four spot. Wrexham, meanwhile, are sixth, and already seven points off the top four.
Finally, to Cyncoed, as the league’s bottom two faced off. Goals conceded and poor defending had been the early season theme for Cardiff Met and Aberystwyth Town, but they both put a stop to that on Sunday, as they played out a drab 0-0 draw.
In a game that lacked any real chances, Aber looked the more threatening but couldn’t find a way past Charlotte Smith in the Archers goal. The Seasiders will have taken more positives out of the game than Met, who looked lost for large swathes of the fixture.
Three stars who shined as Cardiff Met draw at home to Aberystwyth Town in Adran Premier
Adran Trophy
The final games of the Adran Trophy took place on Sunday, and there was plenty of drama.
In group one, Connah’s Quay and Llandudno booked their spots in the round of 16. The Nomads ended with a 3-0 home win over NFA, as Alisha Whitehead-Hughes grabbed a goal and an assist, while Llandudno picked up a 4-0 away win over Bangor, where Ella Jones and Rebecca Jarvis-Evans scored braces.
The biggest win of the day could be found in group two, as Flint Town United topped the table with an astonishing 9-3 victory over Felinheli. There was a hat-trick for Jennifer Haynes, who becomes the competition’s top scorer. Going through alongside Flint are Llanfair United, who got out of the group stages for the first time with a 4-0 triumph over Rhyl.
In group three, Caldicot Town staged a comeback to finish top, beating Llanelli Town 2-1. Having gone behind midway through the first half, goals from Rianne Jones and Millie Pearce saw them through. Cascade join them in the next round after they defeated Swansea University, Annaliese Lewis with the only goal of the game.
Penybont topped group four with a 100% record, as they picked up an impressive 3-2 win away to Pontypridd United, who exit the competition. Maddie Priday scored the crucial third goal before the hour mark. Cwmbran Celtic are the final side to book their spot in the next round, as they beat Cambrian United 4-1. The highlight of the game was two goals for Jade Crofts.
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