Week two of the Adran Premier has been and gone, and what a round we had!
Along with the Adran Prem, the Adran North and South resumed their seasons after a brief hiatus. We take a look back on a crazy weekend of football.
Adran Premier
We begin this week in Cyncoed. In their final game of last season, TNS defeated Cardiff Met by five goals to four, in what was a pulsating match. This time, the excitement levels were just as high, as they played out a 4-4 draw.
It only took four minutes for the Archers to break the deadlock, as Amy Long tapped in at close range. But luckily for the Saints, they weren’t behind for long, as Ella Hartley responded with a well taken goal inside the area. In their defeat to Cardiff City last week, Met’s new striker Ingrid Ådland looked impressive, and she once again stepped up in this game, as she fired in from long range. A goal well worth seeking out on social media. On the stroke of half time, Met managed to pull two goals ahead, as Ådland set up Ellie Preece.
Many had TNS down as dark horses in this year’s competition, but that first half performance would have had many people questioning their credentials. Yet they hit back in style. Hartley bagged her second with a well-placed strike from range, before Caitlin Chapman latched onto Beth Lewis’ long ball to draw level. But there was even more drama to come. Norwegian Ådland once again proved to be a thorn in TNS’ side, and she raced through on goal and delicately placed the ball in the bottom corner. But the Saints would have the last laugh, as they equalised for a third time. A poor goal kick fell straight to Chapman, and she had the easy task of putting the ball in the net. A whirlwind of a game!
Newly promoted Wrexham marked their return to the top tier in entertaining fashion last weekend but faced their first trip to South Wales on Sunday, as they faced off against Pontypridd United. The Dragons looked to bounce back after losing on opening day, but their misery was compiled further, as Wrexham gained their first win since promotion, a 3-0 triumph.
After a quiet opening 25, Wrexham hit Ponty with a quick double blow. First, Amber Lightfoot raced away from the defence, before cutting inside and guiding a low effort into the bottom corner. Minutes later, Lili Jones got her foot on the end of a scramble in the box to double the lead.
Into the second half, and the Red Dragons’ dominance continued, and they were rewarded with their third goal on the hour mark, as Rosie Hughes got her second of the season, after receiving a cross from Lightfoot. The only blemish for Steve Dale’s side was the sending off of Ava Suckley late on, but they will be delighted with their afternoon’s work. It’s only two games in, but there may be some murmurings of discontent around the USW SportPark.
The other team involved in that crazy late game last week were Swansea City. Their opponents were Barry Town United, who had caused the Swans some problems in the past. There were to be no trip ups this weekend, as the Swans strolled their way to a 3-0 win.
Swansea dominated the ball early on, and finally put the ball in the back of the net six minutes from the break. Steph Turner’s slide ball through was finished off by Sammy Wynne. Wynne, who joined from Oxford United, is a Swansea fan, and clearly enjoyed every minute of scoring for the club she’s always supported.
Barry’s afternoon turned from bad to worse in the second half, as they put the ball through their own goal twice. Chloe Jones turned a Chloe Chivers cross into the goal before Nia Davies turned in a pass by Sophie Brisland-Hancocks. It’s early in the season, but Swansea sit top of the table after that win, and they will be very confident heading into their next games. For Barry, it’s two losses in a row.
The final game in the Adran Prem takes us to the home of the champions. Two weeks ago, Cardiff City were playing in the Champions League. For Aberystwyth Town, they had finished the season in sixth place. In perhaps one of the shocks of the season, the Seasiders held the Bluebirds to a 0-0 draw.
In what was an entertaining game, both sides had chances. Eliza Collie raced through on a number of occasions, but Margot Farnes in the Aber goal had a blinder of a game. At the other end, Rebecca Mathias stinged the hands of Ceryn Chamberlain from range. In the second half, City saw more of the ball, but couldn’t get through a stout Aber defence. Frustrations boiled over towards the end, as Seren Watkins was dismissed in stoppage time, but Gavin Allen’s side held on for a magnificent away point.
After two weeks, no team in the Adran Premier has a 100% record, proving that this league is well and truly wide open this season.
Adran North
Pre-season favourites Connah’s Quay continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 4-1 victory away to Bangor. Elana Harley put the Nomads ahead with a powerful effort inside the box before an own goal from Bangor keeper Rebecca Elliot doubled the away side’s lead.
The flurry of goals continued in the second half, as Phoebe Ellis scored after being put through by Alisha Wright. It means Ellis has now scored in five consecutive competitive games. Captain Polly Wild-McGregor added a fourth with a tidy finish into the bottom corner. Menna Evans pulled one back for Bangor, but they are now the only team without a point in the North. The Nomads go top.
We had the first Rhyl derby in the Adran North this season, as Rhyl hosted NFA. It was a game to remember for the newly promoted side, as they gained their first points of the season after a 1-1 draw.
In first half stoppage time, Amy Webster stepped up and converted a penalty, but Sade Benjamin, who joined Rhyl from NFA, equalised soon after the game restarted in the second half. This point shows that NFA could and can compete in this league. For Rhyl, they keep up their unbeaten start to the season.
The two teams who finished in the bottom two places in last season’s Adran North, Airbus and Llanfair United, met at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium, and they played out a 1-1 draw.
Bethan Davies put the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, but Jodie Carswell equalised for the Powys based side four minutes into the second period. Both sides will certainly be hoping they can have better seasons this year.
Adran South
The goals continued to pour in for Briton Ferry, as they kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a 6-0 win at home to Cwmbran Celtic. To their credit, Cwmbran restricted Ferry early on with some good defending, but Ela Roberts eventually broke the deadlock with a good finish inside the box. Ferry would score two goals in four minutes to go into the break three up. Georgia Howells chipped the keeper from distance, before league top scorer Alison Witts tapped in from close range.
The second half became the Mollie Jones show. Her brace in the second half put Ferry in a commanding position (her second goal in particular well worth searching for on social media). Fleur Jenkins added the cherry on top of the cake with ten minutes to go, and it certainly looks like Ferry will be difficult to stop this year.
The other Adran South side to make it two wins from two were Cascade, but they had to come from behind to defeat Caldicot Town. The first half of this game could easily go down as one of the best halves of football this season. Caldy shocked the visitors by going two up early on. New signings Jade Crofts and Lucy McDonough put the hosts in a comfortable position. But two quick goals before the break from Lauren Boyd and Molly Chapman levelled things up.
With the game hanging in the balance throughout the second half, Phoebe Ware popped up 14 minutes from time to seal a big comeback win for Cascade. They march to second place, while Caldicot sink to the foot of the table.
Two promoted sides met in the second matchday, as Coed Duon hosted Llanelli Town. Both would pick up their first points of the season after playing out a 1-1 draw.
Both goals came early in the second half. Charmain Martin-Evans put the West Wales side in front, but Coed Duon hit back instantly with a goal through Shannon Evans. The point will certainly boost both parties’ hopes of a solid season.
Finally, Pontardawe Town recovered from their 11-0 loss on opening day to draw 2-2 with Swansea University.
The ever-present Katie Horsburgh put the uni side in front, but two goals from Renee Day either side of half time had dragged Ponty in front. However, they were dealt some late heartbreak, as Jessica Goucher scored in third minute of stoppage time to salvage a point for the away side.
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