League action took a pause this weekend, as clubs played out the first round of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup.
The weather claimed a couple of games, but there was still plenty of fixtures and drama for fans to sink their teeth into.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
We begin this roundup in the Gower and at Parc Dan Y Graig, the home of Penclawdd AFC. Penclawdd find themselves in the third tier of the pyramid, and have had a solid start to the season, winning three and losing one of their league games. They welcomed the reigning two-time champions Cardiff City to their patch in a real David vs. Goliath matchup. Penclawdd certainly gave the Bluebirds a scare, but the champions eventually prevailed 6-2.
The Donks made a perfect start to the game and stunned the Adran Premier side, as Alex Davies put them ahead ten minutes in, but almost immediately, Fiona Barry equalised for City. You’d think that goal would be the boost Iain Darbyshire’s side needed, but Penclawdd had other ideas. Winning a penalty before the midway point of the half, Davies stepped up and struck home. Penclawdd back ahead.
City elected to choose a number of young players for this cup match, but they still had a few familiar names in their eleven. One of them was Molly Kehoe, and she managed to draw City back level for the second time just after the half hour mark. Despite coming under heavy pressure, Penclawdd made it to the half level. Was there about to be a major shock?
Sadly, for fans of the underdog, their fairytale ending wasn’t going to come true, as the Bluebirds went into a different gear in the second half. Kehoe added her second, before there were debut goals for Holly Jones, Paige Parsons, and Lucy Malin. The champions through, but they knew full well that they had been given almighty scare by Penclawdd.
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The other classic cup matchup came in north Wales, as third tier Llanystumdwy welcomed the riches of Wrexham to Parc Dwyfor. This was the furthest any Llanystumdwy team, men or women, had gone in the Welsh Cup, and excitement levels were certainly high in this part of Eifionydd. Despite a brave first half showing, they couldn’t do enough to stop Wrexham, who strode to an 11-0 win.
The hosts sat back, trying to frustrate the Red Dragons, but their barricades were broken twelve minutes in, as Amber Lightfoot fired Steve Dale’s side ahead. More good Llanystumdwy defending began to frustrate Wrexham, but ten minutes before the interval, they found a second, as Liv Fuller found the back of the net from range.
The home side certainly hadn’t disgraced themselves, but in the second half, the gulf in class between both sides began to show, as Wrexham scored nine more goals. There were braces for Brooke Cairns, Rosie Hughes, and Abbie Iddenden, while Rebecca Pritchard, Nat Clark, and Phoebe Davies also found the back of the net. A strong showing from Wrexham, but for Llanystumdwy, it’s the end of what’s been a remarkable run.
If it’s cup upsets you’re looking for, there were three sides who managed to knock out higher ranking opposition. The most impressive came on Singleton Campus, as Carmarthen Town trounced Adran South side Swansea University 5-1. Old Gold raced to a four-goal lead to really asset their dominance, before seeing out the game in fine fashion. Lani Hogben was the star, as she recorded a goal and an assist in the shock win.
Another Adran South side to get knocked out were semi-pro-outfit Llanelli Town, who were defeated on penalties by third tier Penydarren. It looked for a long time that Penydarren would win the game in normal time, but Stacey Webber scored a 91st minute equaliser for Llanelli to make it 2-2 and take the game to penalties. In the pressure moment, both Webber and Nadia Phillips missed their penalties, meaning it was Penydarren who went through.
The final upset came in the Valleys, as fourth tier Johnstown became the lowest seed to book their spot in the next round, as they defeated third tier Cambrian United 5-2 away from home. A hat-trick from Mila Roberts was enough to see the away side through, and they will be hoping for a big game in the next round.
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One side who avoided an upset by the skin of their teeth were Adran North side Felinheli, who needed penalties to squeeze past third tier Llangefni Town. At one stage, Felinheli found themselves 3-1 down, but an 84th minute Rubie Davies goal made it 4-4 in normal time, taking the tie to spot kicks. There, Ceri Slaney’s miss proved to be the pivotal one, as Y Felin breathed a huge sigh of relief.
In the only all-Adran Premier tie of the round, Barry Town hammered Cardiff Met 5-0 in Cyncoed. Only two weeks ago, Barry won this fixture 5-1 in the league, and this time around, they went one better by keeping a clean sheet. Keira Harris scored a brace in the trouncing. Met remain winless in all competitions so far this season.
There were no problems for TNS, as they sailed past Pwllheli 6-0. Chantelle Teare kept up her excellent run of form by scoring two, as did her strike partner Emily Ridge. Another Adran Prem side who had no problems were Aberystwyth Town, who defeated Rhyl 8-0. Hannah Davies and Lleucu Mathias scored a brace each in Aber’s first win of the season.
In the tussle of the Adran North heavyweights, it was Llandudno who came out on top, as they beat Connah’s Quay on penalties. In a game that swung one way and then the other, a penalty shootout was almost fitting, and it was Jasmin Dutton who scored the crucial spot kick to send Dudno into the next round.
Elsewhere, a goal and an assist from Amy Webster helped NFA to a 3-1 win over Airbus, while new signing Quianna Wheeler scored the only goal of the game to help Pontypridd United beat Penybont 1-0.
Four games were postponed on Sunday. Cardiff Wanderers vs. Caldicot Town, Talycopa vs. Swansea City, Taffs Well vs. Briton Ferry, and Cwmbran Celtic vs. Cascade will all be rearranged for a later date.
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