After last week’s Adran Trophy Round of 16, it was the Welsh Cup’s time to shine this weekend.
We had eight matches in which there was plenty of drama, goals, and a few anomalies.
Let’s take a look at the week that was.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
We begin this week down at Leckwith and with the cup holders, Cardiff City. The only team to win four Welsh Cups in a row are Cardiff City Ladies (now Gwalia United), and the Bluebirds were looking to write their name in the history books. Trying to cause an upset were Cascade, who themselves defeated Adran Premier side Cardiff Met in the Adran Trophy last weekend. We so nearly had another shock, but City came back to record a 2-1 win.
Despite creating some early half chances, Iain Darbyshire’s team would find themselves behind on the half hour mark, as former City prodigy Megan Waite put Cascade ahead. A shock was certainly on the cards, and things could have been a lot better for the visitors. Katie Davies was denied a goal by Anna Phelps, while the keeper was on hand again to make sure Ellis Lunn didn’t convert from a corner.
This was a much changed and very youthful Bluebirds team and being behind heading into the final stages of the game, it was make or break time for them. The first response came after the hour mark, as Nieve Jenkins bundled in from Molly Kehoe’s corner.
The clock kept ticking, and for all the while, it looked like Cascade would take the champions into a penalty shootout. But it takes a brave soul to count out the Bluebirds, and they found their winner in the 94th minute; Molly Kehoe finding the back of the net.
While they weren’t at their best, the Bluebirds will be thankful that their young stars managed to find a way through in the end. For Cascade, it’s a result that they can take a lot of pride from.
Now we make a short trip east and to Caldicot Town. Enjoying a good start to the season, the Adran South side welcomed Barry Town to Jubilee Way. While it wasn’t pretty, Barry eventually snuck past Caldicot on penalties.
It was a fast start to the game for the Linnets, as Erin Murray struck home with just seven minutes on the clock. But they were dealt a sucker punch before the break, as Caldicot stormed ahead. Rianne Jones levelled the tie midway through the first half, before Millie Pearce put them ahead three minutes before the interval.
Things looked even bleaker for Barry just two minutes into the second half, as goalkeeper Molly Arnesen was handed a straight red card. With no keeper on the bench, Murray took the gloves and played the rest of the tie between the sticks. But the away side’s Adran Premier prowess shone through, as Keira Harris equalised.
Neither side were able to find a winner, and therefore penalties were needed to decide a winner. Remarkably, Murray saved two Caldicot penalties, and that allowed Ellie Gunney to hit the winner. A performance to remember for the striker turned makeshift goalkeeper.
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Next up to West Wales. Carmarthen Town have had a remarkable rise over the last few seasons, and on Sunday, they were handed their biggest test yet, a cup tie against Swansea City. It was always going to be a challenge for Old Gold, but they put in an admirable performance, despite falling to a 3-0 defeat.
The first half was full of frustration for Swansea, as they failed to get past Ffion Ashman. Robyn Pinder and Emily Richards both saw strikes saved by the veteran keeper, while Lucy Finch went one step closer, as she struck the crossbar. Carmarthen also had positive moments, but Lily Owen saw her shot blocked by Sammy Wynne.
More Ashman saves followed at the start of the second half, but she couldn’t keep the Swans out forever, and her goal was finally breached just after the hour mark. Wynne’s clever pass through the defence fell into the path of Richards, who found the bottom corner.
With one under their belt, Swansea eventually went through the gears and found their second and third goals. Wynne bagged herself a thoroughly deserved goal, before she added another assist towards the end, as Jasmine Guymer scored her first goal of the season.
For Carmarthen, the game and a result is an indictor of where they are on their journey to try and reach the Adran South. For Swansea City, it’s another step in the right direction, as they try and win the Welsh Cup for the first time since 2018.
The lowest ranked side left in the competition were fourth tier Johnstown. Their reward for reaching this round of the Welsh Cup was a home game against Adran South side Pontypridd United. The was to be no fairytale ending for Johnstown, as they were defeated 3-0 by Pontypridd.
Having not been able to find a way through a stout defence, Ponty eventually took the lead midway through the half through Lauren Payne. Their second came in first time stoppage time, with Nicole Fenton finding the back of the net. That’s now seven goals and nine assists for Fenton in nine games.
It took a while for the visitors to find a third goal, but it came six minutes from time, yet again through Payne. Johnstown certainly depart the competition with their heads held high, while Pontypridd United are now the only non-Adran Premier side left in the Welsh Cup.
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Elsewhere, there were comfortable wins for Adran Premier sides. Wrexham continued their good run of form with a 10-0 win away to Felinheli. Ava Suckley grabbed herself a hat-trick, while Rosie Hughes recorded two goals and two assists in the big win.
Briton Ferry are also into the hat for the quarterfinals, after beating Penydarren 11-1 away from home. Laura-May Walkley scored three, while Lucy Powell scored two and set up another four. There was a moment of celebration for Penydarren, as Amy Davies scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.
Aberystwyth Town recorded yet another cup away win, this time beating NFA 8-0. Both Libby Isaac and Jess Baker scored two each, as Aber reach the last eight in both cup competitions once again.
And finally, TNS sealed their place in the hat for the next round with a 6-0 triumph away to Llandudno. After a goalless first half, the Saints were rampant in the second. There were six different scorers for Shauna Duffy’s side, with Maria Francis-Jones and Lexi Jones amongst them.
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