Cardiff City turn South Wales blue, while Wrexham hit magnificent seven – Adran Premier roundup

Slowly but surely, we are approaching the business end of the Adran Premier, and the stakes are getting higher.

The battle for the title and the top four played out in front of our eyes on Sunday, as did crucial games in the Adran North and Adran South.

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

Adran Premier

We begin this week in Leckwith, and one of the biggest jewels in the Adran Premier crown, the South Wales Derby. Cardiff City were looking to strengthen their grasp at the top of the table, while Swansea City were looking to confirm their spot in the top four. In a derby that certainly won’t live long in the memory, it was the blue side of South Wales who prevailed, as they picked up a 1-0 victory.

The first half was dominated by half chances, with Cardiff shading it on the shot counter. Laura Curnock and Meg Bowen couldn’t find the target, while Lily Billingham failed to test Charlie Haynes one-on-one. For Swansea, the closest they came was through Stacey John-Davis, but she sliced over the bar from close range.

Into the second half, and it started much like the first, but ten minutes into it, the winning moment came. Lisa Owen’s magnificent through ball found the run of Billingham, who had beaten the offside trap expertly. And this time in a battle with Haynes, the midfielder came out on top, as she found the far corner.

With their advantage, Cardiff formed a formidable defensive wall which Swansea couldn’t break down. Chloe Chivers had their best opportunity, but her powerful strike from distance was tipped round the post expertly by Ceryn Chamberlain.

Not the most glamorous of wins, but an important one for Cardiff City, who keep their dreams of three straight titles alive. Swansea City, meanwhile, have work to do to secure a top four spot.

Cardiff City 1-0 Swansea City: Bluebirds stay top of Adran Premier with derby day win

Two more title challengers met at Old Road. A string of late goals had seen Briton Ferry move up to second in the table, one place above opponents TNS. In an entertaining affair, a stoppage time equaliser saw Ferry draw 2-2 with the Saints.

From the off the action was end-to-end. For the hosts, Maia Owen headed just over the bar, before Alison Witts failed to guide her header into the back of the net. At the other end, Courtney Young had to be on hand to deny both Lexi Jones and Chantelle Teare.

The first half looked destined to end goalless, but in stoppage time, Ferry were given the perfect opportunity to take the lead, after Laura-May Walkley was brought down in the area. Penalty given. Up stepped the ever-reliable Lucy Powell, who found the top corner expertly. Advantage Ferry.

The second half, however, started in the worst possible manner for Rhys James’ side, as Walkley was sent off for a second bookable offence. TNS managed to take full advantage of that with 20 minutes to go, as Jones chipped Young to restore parity. And shortly after scoring her first, Jones bagged her second in style with a strike from 25-yards out.

It looked like, once again, Ferry were going to squander a lead late on to TNS, in a result that could cost them in the race for the championship. But this team has made a habit of finding a way through, and in stoppage time, they did it again. Jess Denscombe’s hooked ball forward had the TNS defence at sixes and sevens, and there to take full advantage was Megan Kearle, who beat Becca Elliott at her near post to steal a point.

Both of these teams have a game in hand on Cardiff City, with those matches being played in midweek. A huge moment for both sides for sure.

Up north, Wrexham were looking to close the gap on the top four, after recording a disappointing draw away to Cardiff Met. Opponents Aberystwyth Town, meanwhile, were looking to open up more space between them and the bottom of the table. However, the match was a nightmare one for Aber, as Wrexham thrashed them 7-1.

After knocking and knocking on the Aber door throughout the first half, Wrexham finally took the lead midway through the first period, as Carra Jones found the back of the net following Abbie Iddenden’s pass through. Their second came in stoppage time, as Ava Suckley struck a sumptuous curling effort from range past Chelsea Herbert.

Aber had been under the cosh for large periods of the first 45, but four minutes into the second, they grabbed a goal back, as Carys Bufton scored her first for the club since joining from Barry Town. But if you thought that goal would rock Wrexham, think again.

Iddenden once again played a big part in the next goal, as her pass across the box was turned in by captain Liv Fuller. After more Wrexham control, they had a chance to add their fourth of the afternoon from the penalty spot. Up stepped Rosie Hughes, who made no mistake.

The fourth proved to be a real hammer blow for Chris Church’s side, as Wrexham ran rampant in the closing stages. Suckley hit another two to complete a superb hat-trick, before Fuller added her second to make it seven for the afternoon. After a below par season, a top four spot is still very much on for the Red Dragons.

Swansea City’s first ever head of women’s football leaves after less than a year

Adran North

Connah’s Quay took another giant step towards winning the Adran North title, as they hammered long-time rivals Llandudno 7-1.

The Nomads only needed ten minutes to break the deadlock, as captain Polly Wild-McGregor once again found the target. And when former Dudno favourite Ella Jones found the second before the half hour mark, everything was looking rosy for the league leaders.

But Angharad Jones hit one back for the visitors, and rumblings of a Dudno comeback began to sound around The Quay. However, all that goal did was rile Connah’s Quay up, and what followed was nothing short of spectacular.

Before half time, Wild-McGregor struck her second, and Evie Chard popped up with another goal, as they went into the interval 4-1. And in the second half, the torment continued. Jones added her second and Elana Harley grabbed her first, before Wild-McGregor completed her hat-trick with ten minutes to go.

That is now, remarkably, Wild-McGregor’s 15^th goal in just eight league appearances, and she really has been the standout player across all three of the Adran Leagues. The Nomads are now eleven clear at the top and stopping them could well be an impossible task.

The team in the best position to thwart Connah’s Quay could well be Llanfair United, who moved up to second in the table with a 1-0 win over Rhyl.

The winning goal came midway through the first half, as Harriet Davies hit her sixth league goal of the campaign. It’s been a remarkable season so far for Llanfair, who have only lost one of their seven Adran North games to put themselves in a strong position.

Bangor made it back-to-back wins in the Adran North with a huge 4-0 away win against NFA.

Erin Burns put Bangor ahead in the first half, but a rampant second half saw the visitors record a big win. Menna Evans bagged a brace off the bench, and fellow substitute Cerys Parry also found the target, as Bangor move up to fifth in the table.

Felinheli are now four games unbeaten in the league, after they defeated Flint Town United 2-0 at Cae Seilo.

A Kelly Jones strike coupled with a Catrin Evans penalty sealed a comfortable win for the Felin, who are now three points off Llandudno in third.

Adran South

In Sunday’s huge top of the table clash, Pontypridd United recorded a monumental 1-0 win over Cwmbran Celtic.

The winning goal came 20 minutes from time, with Caitlin Seaborne scoring her second goal of the season, and without a doubt, her most important goal of the campaign, as Ponty jump Cwmbran into first place.

Elsewhere, Swansea University narrowly defeated Llanelli Town 1-0 at Stebonheath Park.

American Jessica Goucher scored the winner ten minutes before half time. It means that Swansea Uni, Pontypridd, and Cwmbran are all level on 15 points, and all have played seven games. The league title could really go anywhere!

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)