Cardiff City score late winner, as they lift Adran Premier trophy yet again

A late Nieve Jenkins goal sealed a 3-2 win for Cardiff City over Briton Ferry, as they lifted the Adran Premier trophy for the third straight season.

In front of a vocal Cardiff City Stadium, Kerry Walklett gave City a lead midway through the first half, only for Megan Kearle to peg the champions back a minute later with a sensational volley.

Fiona Barry’s bit of magic made sure the Bluebirds headed into the break level, but again Briton Ferry came back, this time with Tija Richardson scoring against her former club. But in the 90^th minute, Jenkins scrambled home to ensure City ended the season claiming all three points.

Cardiff City manager Iain Darbyshire elected to make three changes from the side that were defeated by Wrexham last time out. There were returns for Ceryn Chamberlain, Molly Kehoe and Amy Long, with Anna Phelps, Grace Evans, and Eliza Collie making way.

Briton Ferry’s Rhys James made three changes in what was his final game in charge at the club. Lucy Powell, Jess Denscombe and Lexi Clayton were the ones to drop out, with Brooke Llewellyn, Maia Owen and Jess Denscombe replacing them.

Adran Premier runners-up Briton Ferry started the brighter of the two teams, and played City at their own game. Pressing and penning them in, the Bluebirds struggled to navigate through Ferry, and chances began to arrive for the visitors as a result. Maia Owen was denied by Chamberlain, before the City keeper had to be alive again to thwart Jade Crofts.

But after weathering the storm, the champions came out of their shell and managed to take the lead. Billingham’s pass across the field made its way to Kerry Walklett, and her first time strike curled away from Courtney Young’s reach and into the corner of the net.

However, only a minute later, Ferry hit back in style. Controlling a high ball, Megan Kearle took a touch off her chest before unleashing a stunning volley which clipped in off the underside of the crossbar. A moment of sheer magic from Kearle, who has ended the season strongly.

After the two quick goals, the game lost a bit of its speed and its quality, with both sides responsible for some scrappy spells, which clearly frustrated both managers.

Yet, it was the Bluebirds who would head into the break ahead. Ffion Price’s searching ball forward was brought down expertly by Fiona Barry, who powered into the box before finding the far corner. The champions ahead at the interval.

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Right at the start of the second half, two could have turned into three, but Young made a remarkable stop by tipping Billingham’s rasping shot onto the crossbar. Minutes later, the keeper again kept her side in the game again by sticking out a strong arm to stop Kehoe from converting at a tight angle.

Time after time this season, Rhys James’ side have shown they are made of stern stuff, and having navigated through the blue waves, they hit back and equalised midway through the second half. Denscombe’s corner found the head of Tija Richardson, and somehow, the ball went through a couple of City bodies before sneaking over the line. The Bluebird fan scoring against her former club at Cardiff City Stadium? The stuff dreams are made of.

Much of the second half went by without much incident. While both were trying to find holes in each other’s defences, neither could muster any clear-cut attempt on goal.

That was until the final minute of added time, when the champions showed their true grit and determination to find a winner. A free kick from deep caused all kinds of havoc in the Ferry defence, who were unable to clear their lines. With the ball bouncing around, Nieve Jenkins managed to turn the ball home, and in the process, seal all three points for City.

This was the final Adran Premier game of the season, but Cardiff City still have one game to go, as they try and retain their Bute Energy Welsh Cup crown against Wrexham at Rodney Parade on Sunday April 27^th.

Player of the Match: Lily Billingham

In what was a scrappy game, someone needed to keep a level head and guide their team on the right path, and more often than not, Billingham was that player for City. Whether it was calming things down in the middle or making driving runs, the youngster was at the heart of everything good for the Bluebirds.

Cardiff City

Ceryn Chamberlain (Anna Phelps 90’), Ffion Price (Lisa Owen 90’), Nieve Jenkins, Megan Bowen, Laura Curnock (Grace Evans 63’), Fiona Barry (Eliza Collie 63’), Kerry Walklett ©, Shannon Evans, Molly Kehoe, Lily Billingham, Amy Long (Mackenzie Olden 63’)

Goals: Kerry Walkeltt (25’), Fiona Barry (41’), Nieve Jenkins (90’)

Yellows: Amy Long (25’)

Briton Ferry

Courtney Young, Laura-May Walkley, Alice Broadley, Brooke Llewellyn (Olivia Kett-White 89’), Lowri Ridings ©, Ella Smitham (Anya Welch 88’), Megan Kearle (Lucy Powell 73’), Maia Owen, Tija Richardson, Jess Denscombe (Ela Roberts 89’), Jade Crofts (Catrin Edwards 88’)

Goals: Megan Kearle (26’), Tija Richardson (69’)

(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)