Cardiff City win thriller, while Wrexham stumble in race for top four – Adran Premier roundup

Despite Storm Éowyn claiming a few matches, all three of Sunday’s Adran Premier games went ahead as planned.

As well as action in the top tier, there were three games in the Adran North, and one game in the Adran South.

Let’s take a look back at the week that was.

Adran Premier

The only place to start is at Park Hall and a mouthwatering top of the table clash. As a consequence of the midweek results, Cardiff City leapfrogged TNS to the Adran Premier summit, but on their last visit to this part of North Wales, they tasted defeat in the Adran Trophy. A number of times on Sunday afternoon, it looked like the Bluebirds would lose again, but they found a way through and defeated the Saints 4-3 in a pulsating game.

The game was only two minutes old when the first goal came, and what a strike it was too, as Chantelle Teare found the top corner from distance; a goal good enough to grace any game at any level. But ten minutes later the scores were level. Capitalising on a poor defensive clearance, Fiona Barry darted into the box and calmly finish into the bottom corner.

The pendulum swung again eight minutes after the leveller, as TNS were awarded a penalty after Teare was brought down in the area. Up stepped the ever-reliable Lia Lewis, who slammed home the spot kick to put the Saints back in business. But on the half hour mark, another twist, this time with City taking advantage. From a tight angle, somehow, Mikalya Cook lobbed Becca Elliott, and we were level once more.

Four goals in one half would be worth the admission fee alone, but with three minutes remaining before the break, yet another strike went in, and for the third time, TNS took the lead. Tibby Webb’s searching ball forward found the run of Grace Dunkerley, who beat the onrushing Ceryn Chamberlain to the ball, and found the back of an empty net. Half time, 3-2, what on earth would the second half look like?

Immediately, City struck back and found another leveller four minutes after the restart. Ffion Price’s pinpoint corner found the head of Laura Curnock, and she restored parity with plenty of time in the second half remaining.

It felt like nothing could down these two heavyweights, but midway through the half, City struck the ultimate blow. A scramble on the edge of the TNS box was pounced upon by Cook, and she hit a sumptuous effort into the net, and that proved to be the final bit of action, as the Bluebirds defended their lead magnificently until the end.

A fantastic contest between two teams at the very top of their game. However, City now have a five-point gap at the top. TNS do have a game in hand, and anything can happen between now and the end of phase two.

To Park Avenue now. Aberystwyth Town came into Sunday’s game off the back of their first league win this season over Cardiff Met. Opponents Swansea City knew a win could strengthen their grasp on fourth place. Come full time, it was the Swans who were left celebrating by the seaside, as they picked up a 4-0 win.

Despite dominating the ball, Swansea struggled to find the opener in the first half. Robyn Pinder headed wide, debutant Lauren Davies found the side netting, while Nia Jones narrowly missed the target with a curling effort. It hadn’t quite been Swansea’s half, but early in the second period, they finally broke the deadlock, as Emily Richards lifted the ball over Chelsea Herbert.

With one under their belts, Swansea found their groove and really punished Aber. Their second goal came courtesy of Chloe Chivers, who found the back of the net with a pearler from 30-yards out. It was another substitute who found the third, as Aimee Deacon turned home Stacey John-Davis’ cross. That’s Deacon’s tenth goal of the campaign, and it’s turning into quite the debut season for the youngster.

The fourth and final goal came through Taite Trivett, who ran from her own half, through the defence, before finding the target. A big win for Jamie Sherwood’s side, who now control their top four hopes.

At Cyncoed, things needed to change quickly for Cardiff Met. Performances had been better in recent games, but they weren’t getting points to show for it. Wrexham, on the other hand, had top four hopes themselves, but needed to start winning to put the pressure on. In the end, the match finished 1-1, in what is certainly a better point for Met than Wrexham.

Wrexham started the brighter of the two teams, but Rosie Hughes and Lili Jones couldn’t quite find a way past Charlotte Smith. Half an hour in, and the Red Dragons found themselves behind. Samantha Dziminowicz put in a dangerous free kick into the area, and in the wrong spot at the wrong time was Nat Clark, who turned the ball into her own net.

Despite going behind, Wrexham again put plenty of pressure on the Met backline, but again, were failing to score. It was the same story in the second half, and it was becoming a case of so close, yet so far for Steve Dale’s side. But midway through the half, they finally found a way through. Clark’s pass was weighted perfectly for Brooke Cairns, who was able to strike past Smith.

As the game came to a close, Wrexham knew that, despite it being mathematically possible, a top four spot was looking unlikely. For Met, they close the gap to Aberystwyth, and with their new style of play, could produce the most dramatic of escapes.

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Adran North

It certainly looks like an impossible task to stop Connah’s Quay. The Adran North leaders made it eight wins from eight in the league on Sunday, as they defeated Flint Town United 3-0.

After coming on as a substitute in the first minute of the game, the Adran North’s top scorer, Polly Wild-McGregor, scored two in the space of seven minutes to put the Nomads in control at the break. And when Phoebe Ellis fired home the third two minutes into the second half, Flint had a mountain to climb.

Shona Roberts could have pulled one back for the hosts, but she couldn’t convert her penalty. If the Nomads manage to beat Llandudno next week, the title race could be well and truly over.

The reason for that is Llandudno fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Bangor.

The game was decided with nine minutes remaining, with Ashleigh Jones finding the winner. Dudno are now ten points behind Connah’s Quay, but this was a day to remember for Bangor.

This was their first league of the season, and despite being in the bottom half, they have been a solid outfit who are difficult to beat, having only conceded nine goals in seven games. If they can find a few more goals, good luck trying to stop them!

Elsewhere, Rhyl picked up a huge win in their fight to stay in the division, as they beat local rivals NFA 4-0.

The game changed five minutes into the second half, as NFA’s Kayla Hargreaves was sent off. Rhyl took full advantage, thanks to a brace from Rosie O’Brien, and strikes each for Laura Williams and Eleanor Thomas. They now have a six-point gap to NFA, who are rock bottom.

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Adran South

In the only Adran South game of the day, Penybont made sure they were part of the title race, as they beat Cascade 3-1 on the road.

Goals either side of the break from Maddie Priday and Mikaela Hood seemed to have Bont in a comfortable position, but when Erin Parry hit back with three minutes remaining, things looked a little nervy. But Casey Daniels calmed those nerves, as she found a third late on to put the game beyond doubt.

It now means four teams are locked on 12 points, but it’s Cwmbran Celtic who lead the way on 15 points. The Adran South title could really go anywhere this season!

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)