104th minute equaliser ensures a point for Cardiff City in the Adran Premier
SWANSEA, WALES - 16 NOVEMBER 2025: Laura Curnock of Cardiff City Women in the Genero Adran Premier 25/26 Phase 1 fixture between Swansea City Women FC and Cardiff City Women FC at the Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea, Wales. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Laura Curnock’s 104th minute equalise ensured Cardiff City picked up a 3-3 draw at home to The New Saints in the Adran Premier.
Lexi Harrison had put the visitors ahead, but they were pegged back by Fiona Barry. Yet it was the Saints who went into the break ahead thanks to Caitlin Chapman.
Zara Gibbs extended the lead two minutes into the second half, but late goals courtesy of Lily Billingham and Laura Curnock made sure City picked up a point on home soil.
The result drops the Bluebirds to second in the table, while TNS remain in fourth place in the Adran Premier.
Cardiff City manager Iain Darbyshire elected to make five changes from the side that defeated Cardiff Met in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup last weekend. There was a change in the midfield, with both Lily Billingham and Kerry Walklett dropping out. Helen Evans was amongst the names to come in.
TNS interim manager Mikey Harris made only three changes from the team that beat Bangor. Matilda Edge, Charlotte Cress and Safia Paraiso were all replaced by Maria Francis-Jones, Kelsey Richardson and Lia Lewis.
It was a quiet start to the game but it was the Bluebirds who were shading it in terms of chances. Twice Mackenzie Olden came close to finding the opening goal, but Saints keeper Mackenzie Haydn-Jones was on hand to keep her out on both occasions.
Midway through the half the game was brought to life as TNS opened the scoring. Harrison began the move with a darting run through the middle of the park. She worked the ball out to Gibbs, whose low cross into the box was met by Harrison, as the Saints stole the lead.
The Bluebirds struggled throughout the first 45 to make anything stick in the final third. Loose passing and moments of indecision was costing them, but with two minutes of the half remaining, they found their route back. Barry’s cross turned shot caught Haydn-Jones out, and somehow, the ball snuck through her legs and into the back of the net. A moment the TNS keeper will want to forget.
Ordinarily, when the Bluebirds eventually score, they go and score a couple of goals soon after. But today was different. TNS weren’t willing to go down that easily. In first half stoppage time, Maria Francis-Jones’ free-kick was flicked home by Caitlin Chapman. Pure joy for those in green and white, as they held the lead heading into the break.
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If the Saints were delighted with how they finished the first half, they would have been ecstatic with how they started the second. A long ball over the top was intended for Gibbs, but with three City defenders around her, she was second best to win it. Yet, the Saint showed excellent tenacity to not only reach the ball first but execute a pinpoint strike over Ceryn Chamberlain and into the net.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of the Bluebirds who seemingly had no answer to what TNS were putting in front of them. A host of half chances came and went, but Haydn-Jones wasn’t called into action once.
At the other end, Mikey Harris’ side continued to test Chamberlain. Gibbs’ shot from distance was well held by the keeper, while the City number one had to be alert to tip Francis-Jones’ free-kick from distance onto the crossbar.
With the clock ticking down, the Bluebirds gave themselves a lifeline. Haydn-Jones’ poor goal kick wasn’t controlled well by Tiggy Webb, and that allowed Curnock to slip the ball into Billingham, who found the bottom corner.
After the goal, Haydn-Jones required some lengthy treatment on the pitch after taking a hit to the head. The goalkeeper was taken off on a stretcher after help from both the TNS and Cardiff City medical teams.
As a result, ten minutes of added time were played, with 17-year-old Charlie Scott replacing Haydn-Jones. Instantly, Scott was forced to make a fine save from Kerry Walklett’s volley from inside the box, but minutes later she was picking the ball out of her own net. She failed to keep a hold of Ffion Price’s cross, and with the ball bouncing around the goal line, Curnock poked the ball home.
After the equaliser, both sides had chances to win late on. Chapman missed an open goal from distance after Chamberlain made an uncharacteristic error, while Maddison Perrott failed to score with a header from a tight angle, as both sides were forced to settle for a point.
Next up for Cardiff City is a trip west to face Briton Ferry while TNS will be at home to Barry Town next weekend.
Player of the Match: Zara Gibbs
A number of TNS players stood out, but I was so impressed by Gibbs. There are not many in the Adran Premier who run with purpose like her, but she’s also not afraid to get into physical battles. An all-round great performance from the youngster.
Cardiff City
Ceryn Chamberlain, Lisa Owen, Hannah Power © (Maddison Perrott 57’), Nieve Jenkins, Meg Bowen, Laura Curnock, Fiona Barry, Mackenzie Olden (Lily Billingham 57’), Mikayla Cook, Amy Long (Kerry Walklett 79’), Helen Evans (Ffion Price 79’)
Unused subs: Ffion Saunders, Holly Jones, Lucy Malin
Goals: Fiona Barry (43’), Lily Billingham (85’), Laura Curnock (90+14’)
Yellows: Lisa Owen (44’), Meg Bowen (53’)
The New Saints
Mackenzie Haydn-Jones (Charlie Scott 90+7’), Maria Francis-Jones, Zara Gibbs, Mia Davies, Tiggy Webb, Kayleigh Baker, Grace Dunkerley (Charlotte Cress 65’), Kelsey Richardson (Yasmin Evans 78’), Lexi Harrison, Lia Lewis ©, Caitlin Chapman
Unused subs: Matilda Edge, Grace Thomas, Safia Paraiso, Olivia Buckland
Goals: Lexi Harrison (23’), Caitlin Chapman (45+1’), Zara Gibbs (47’)
Yellows: Lexi Harrison (60’)
