Cardiff City to play Wrexham in Welsh Cup final

Cardiff City will meet Wrexham in this season’s Bute Energy Welsh Cup final, which will take place at Rodney Parade next month.

The Bluebirds reached the season finale with a hard fought 1-0 win over TNS at Park Avenue.

The first half saw TNS dominate their opponents, but they couldn’t breach Ceryn Chamberlain’s goal. Chantelle Teare rolled a shot across the face of goal, Helen Evans’ free kick landed on the roof of the net, while Lexi Jones couldn’t keep her shot down after being found free in the box by Teare. The closest City came was through Fiona Barry, but her strike hit the side netting, as the teams went into the break level.

After being unable to find a clear sight at goal throughout the first 45, the Bluebirds almost broke the deadlock just three minutes after the interval, but Barry struck the post. But the youngster was not going to be denied again, and after the hour mark, she put Iain Darbyshire’s side in front with a sumptuous curling strike from 30-yards out.

The goal certainly seemed to relax City, and they almost found a second shortly after the opener, but Mackenzie Olden’s shot from distance just rose over the crossbar. The Saints weren’t really the same team after going behind, but towards the end they did push for an equaliser. The closest they came was through Evans’ header, but unfortunately for Shauna Duffy’s side, the clock ran out for them. Instead, it’s Cardiff City, who haven’t lost in this competition since March 2019, who go in search of their fourth straight Welsh Cup.

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Earlier in the day, Wrexham defeated Adran South side Pontypridd United 4-0 at Latham Park.

The Red Dragons stamped their authority on the game quickly, and took the lead just six minutes in, as Abbie Iddenden rose highest to head home Carra Jones’ corner. A flurry of chances followed for Steve Dale’s side, as Pontypridd struggled to contain them. And they got a deserved second midway through the half. As Lucy Jones blocked Lili Jones’ effort, the ball looped over Amelia Forkings and into the net. A very unfortunate incident for the Ponty defender.

But Wrexham’s joy in front of goal continued in the first half, and they found a third on the half hour mark, as Brooke Cairns fired the ball low past Forkings. While the scoreline may not have shown it, second tier Ponty did create some opportunities. Ffion Simmonds saw her free kick palmed away by Liz Craven, while Lauren Payne just missed the target after a good run through the defence.

Yet, Wrexham put the result beyond any doubt ten minutes into the second half, as Iddenden grabbed her second of the afternoon. There’s absolutely no shame in this result for Pontypridd. Claire O’Sullivan’s young side have proven plenty of people wrong to get to this stage of the competition, and they can depart with their heads held high. But for Wrexham, they now have a chance to put things right after last year’s final defeat.

Cardiff City will play Wrexham in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final on April 27^th at Newport County’s Rodney Parade.

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)