Genero Adran Leagues roundup: Matchday 1

The Adran Leagues roared back into action this past weekend, with notable performances up and down the country.

Y Clwb Pêl-Droed will roundup the Adran Premier, Adran North, and Adran South every week, to make sure you don’t miss a thing from Wales’ top leagues.

Adran Premier

We start our Adran Premier roundup where it finished this week, as Swansea City took on Cardiff Met at the Swansea.com Stadium. A record crowd of 1,426 were there to see what on paper looked like an intriguing matchup, and the hosts sent the Jack Army home happy, as they defeated their opponents 2-0.

Katy Hosford got things going with a wonderful turn and finish in the first half, before the ever-present Stacey John-Davies produced a stunning chip to put the icing on the cake, allowing Swansea to put in a statement performance on the opening day. Met will be looking for a better performance in their next match.

The Archers’ next opponents will be Cardiff City, who beat Pontypridd United 2-0 down in Leckwith. It was certainly a game of two halves with the Bluebirds dominating the first half and they got a deserved goal through Danielle Broadhurst.

But, under interim manager James Fishlock, this Pontypridd team challenged City in the second half. Jasmine Turner stood out for the Dragons as they pushed and pushed for an equaliser, but it wasn’t to be. Substitute Phoebie Poole scored a second with 20 minutes to go to secure the win, but there were positives for both sides to take.

Next, we go to Park Hall, as two of the league’s final day survivors last season, TNS and Barry Town, did battle. It was an even game with both sides heading in level at half time. A goal from Lucie Platt put TNS ahead before Emily Nicholson equalised five minutes before the break.

Three minutes into the second half, the home side had a chance to regain the lead from the penalty spot, but Platt couldn’t convert, and as the game went on it looked like the sides would share the spoils. That was until Barry’s Mackenzie Olden took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored two goals in second half stoppage time to make sure all three points were heading back down south, as Barry prevailed 3-1.

Our final stop in the Adran Prem this week takes us to Pen-y-Pound Stadium, as newly promoted Abergavenny took on Aberystwyth Town. The Green and Black Army finished in the top four last season under Gavin Allen, and they harbour hopes of another top four finish this season. They started well and went into the first half ahead thanks to a goal from Libby Isaac.

Ten minutes from time it looked like Aberystwyth had the game wrapped up with a goal from Rebecca Mathias putting them two ahead. But this Abergavenny team showed they won’t lie down and accept defeat, as new signing Lisa Bird scored a minute later. The Pennies pushed and pushed for an equaliser, but it wasn’t to be, with Aberystwyth heading back west with a 2-1 win.

Adran North

Only two games took place in the Adran North on the opening weekend, and both featured two of the promotion favourites.

In the OPS Wind Arena, Llandudno thumped newly promoted CPD Y Rhyl 8-0. A stunning first half performance saw the home side up 5-0 at the break, thanks to two goals from Maddie Williams and one each for Ffion Owen, Mari Gibbard and India Hassall.

Rhyl put in a better defensive performance in the second half, but there was time for both Williams and Gibbard to get their hat trick to see the Seasiders top the table after matchday one.

Hot on their heels are Wrexham, as they defeated Llanfair United 6-0 away from home. Like Llandudno, Wrexham were 5-0 up at half time in this one. Two goals each for Rosie Hughes and Ava Suckley, as well as one for Libby Mackenzie, set the Dragons on their way.

Llanfair did put in a good display in the second half, restricting their opponents to one goal in the half. That goal, however, did complete the hat trick for Hughes and it looks like it’ll be a tight battle in the Adran North this season.

Adran South

There were also two games in the opening weekend of the Adran South.

Tipped by many to have a successful season, Briton Ferry got their campaign underway with a 5-2 win at home to Caldicot Town. It was Caldicot who took the lead in this one, thanks to a penalty from Ashleigh Harris. The Ferry did respond well and quickly scored three goals to go into the break 3-1 up. Two goals from Mollie Jones and one from new signing Laura-May Walkley reduced the fear around the Old Road Welfare Ground.

Briton Ferry got their fourth and fifth goal within ten minutes of each other. Lucy Powell and a second goal for Walkley assured them of victory around the hour mark. Sarah Sprintall did get a consolation goal for the visitors, but it was Briton Ferry who took the spoils.

The final game in our roundup takes us to Parc Ynysderw, as Pontardawe defeated Swansea University 4-2 in an entertaining game. After a goalless first half, fans feared the second half could be more of the same, but they were served a cracker. The home side scored two in four minutes, one each for Chantelle Jones and Catryn Cook setting the tone. But Swansea Uni hit back with two goals of their own through Freya Sullivan and Charley Haynes, setting up a grandstand finish.

Cook grabbed the third 14 minutes from time, before Sophie Topper put the game to bed and Pontardawe took all three points.