Cardiff City kept their place at the top of the Adran Premier table with a professional 3-0 win over Barry Town.
A Lauren Harris own goal and a tap in from Eliza Collie within the opening ten minutes set the tone for the game, and the Bluebirds wrapped up all three points at the end of the first half, as Fiona Barry fired home into the roof of the net.
City move on to 16 points from seven games, while Barry drop down to fifth.
Iain Darbyshire made two changes from the side that came back to beat Aberystwyth Town last weekend. Fiona Barry and Nieve Jenkins came into the eleven, with Lily Billingham and Laura Curnock making way.
From a Barry perspective, Stevie McCarthy-Campbell made one change from their last outing, which was a draw away to TNS. There was a return for Carys Bufton, who replaced Ellie Gunney.
Fast starts have been something of a rarity for the Bluebirds so far this season, but today, they came flying out of the traps.
Mikayla Cook rushed down the left and put a dangerous cross into the box, but in an attempt to clear the danger, Lauren Harris put the ball into her own net. Three minutes later they had a second. Fiona Barry sprinted down the wing and put in an inviting delivery into the six-yard box, and there to tap home from close range was Eliza Collie.
Barry have been lauded, and rightly so, for their style of play at the beginning of this season, but against City they were being caught out time and time again. Fiona Barry almost scored the most spectacular of goals having set off on a mazy run from the middle of the park into the box, but she put the ball narrowly wide.
However, she was not going to be denied again and scored four minutes before the break. Getting on the end of Kerry Walklett’s cute ball behind the defence, Barry took her time before thundering the ball into the roof of the net.
The visitors’ best, and only, opportunity came right at the end of the half, but Amy Long couldn’t direct her effort on target. A lot of work for the Linnets to do if they were to get anything out of this game.
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While the first half had plenty of goals, by comparison, the second half was far quieter.
City were still bossing possession and really limiting their passing ability, but when it came to attempts on goal, they mostly came from distance. At one stage, it felt everyone in a blue shirt wanted to get on the scoresheet, but none could get past Molly Arnesen.
The league’s top scorer Ffion Price went the closest to adding a fourth goal, after being played through beautifully by Walklett, but she put the ball over the bar in a one-on-one scenario.
At the other end, Barry were really feeding off of scraps. The best chance fell to Ellie Gunney after City failed to clear the ball in their own box, but she could only hit her strike straight at Ceryn Chamberlain.
Some of the Bluebirds’ younger players were given a chance to shine in the closing stages, and it was almost a league debut to remember for Seren Thomas, but her strike from 30-yards out cannoned off the crossbar.
Thankfully from a City perspective, that miss mattered not in the end, as they stormed to a professional and deserved win to keep their place at the top of the table.
Both of these sides will be in Adran Trophy action next weekend. Cardiff City will travel north to face Connah’s Quay, while Barry Town will welcome Flint Town United to Jenner Park.
Player of the Match: Fiona Barry
There were plenty of great performers in blue today, but Barry just about sneaks it for me. Her acceleration is absolutely frightening, and she had the Linnets defence on strings. Her goal was incredibly well taken, and she linked up so well with those around her.
Cardiff City
Ceryn Chamberlain, Lisa Owen, Ffion Price (Lucy Malin 90’), Nieve Jenkins, Meg Bowen © (Seren Thomas 74’), Fiona Barry (Grace Evans 84’), Kerry Walklett, Shannon Evans, Molly Kehoe, Mikayla Cook, Eliza Collie
Unused subs: Anna Phelps, Lily Billingham
Goals: Lauren Harris (5’ OG), Eliza Collie (8’), Fiona Barry (41’)
Barry Town
Molly Arnesen, Lauren Harris, Holly Jenkins (Amelia Herbert 88’), Grace Corne, Erin Murray, Amy Long (Lucy Attwood 71’), Jasmine Turner, Emily Freeman ©, Ingrid Ådland, Carys Bufton (Ellie Gunney 46’), Ellie Preece
Unused subs: Sienna Stone, Mackenzie Ellingham
Yellows: Lauren Harris (59’)
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