The Adran Premier played out its final games of 2024, and goodness me there were consequences at both ends of the table.
As well as Adran Premier fixtures, there were games in the Adran North and Adran South, along with the final quarterfinal from the Adran Trophy.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Adran Premier
We begin the final roundup of 2024 with a fascinating matchup at Park Hall. Both TNS and Swansea City had aspirations of winning the title, and a win for either on Sunday would be a major statement of intent. It was cagey and tight, but it was the Saints who produced some last gasp drama, as they prevailed 1-0.
After some early Swansea chances, TNS thought they took the lead through Chantelle Teare, only for the offside to bring her and the Saints down to earth. Then a flashpoint, as Olivia Buckland collided accidentally with Swans keeper Charlie Haynes, but it forced the Swan off. With no keeper on the bench, veteran Nia Jones took the gloves and aimed to keep her side in the game with 70 minutes still remaining on the clock.
For the most part, it looked like Jones, and the rest of the defence were going to keep a clean sheet. Shauna Duffy’s side were reduced to half chances, with their closest one coming courtesy of Lexi Jones, but Jones made a smart save.
At the other end, Swansea looked threatening. Chloe Chivers’ dangerous free kicks caused problems all afternoon, while Katy Hosford went even closer, seeing her effort from outside the box clip the crossbar.
A draw looked almost certain, but in stoppage time, TNS found a way through. After a bit of pinball in the area, Lexi Jones stayed calm, set herself, and fired the ball into the far corner. A huge goal for TNS, who make sure they will be top of the Prem at Christmas. For a much-depleted Swansea side, they will be gutted not to steal a point away from the table toppers.
We stay in North Wales for Sunday’s other Adran Prem fixture. Wrexham were looking like the side of last season, and were now hunting down a top four spot. Opponents Barry Town were the occupiers of that final place, and were looking to end the year on a high. In a match which swung one way and then the other, it was Wrexham who picked up an important three points, winning 4-3.
It only took two minutes for Steve Dale’s side to break the deadlock, and it came from a rather unlikely source. With Barry failing to clear their lines, Phoebe Davies weaved through bodies before placing her shot in the back of the net. Carra Jones, Ava Suckley, and Liv Fuller all went close to extending the Wrexham lead, but they could only score once past Molly Arnesen in the first half.
How the Red Dragons would rue those missed chances at the start of the second half, as the visitors equalised three minutes into it with an Erin Murray volley. But in a game of anything you can do, I can do better, Fuller found Wrexham’s second with a volley of her own. The entertainment dial was about to be turned up a notch.
Nine minutes after Fuller’s brilliance, Wrexham found their third of the afternoon. Once again, Barry struggled to clear their box, and the player able to capitalise this time was Suckley, as she converted from close range.
The one thing we have learned about this Barry side this season is that they never give up, and they dug deep into their reserves to turn the tide in this game. Amy Long pulled one back, before Ellie Preece stunned The Rock by drawing the Linnets level with ten minutes left to play.
Even at 3-3, you always felt like there were more goals in this game, and in the 90th minute, that strike came Wrexham’s way. Some great vision from Rosie Hughes saw the striker play the ball across to Fuller, who converted at the far post. Ecstasy for Wrexham, agony for Barry. The Linnets stay fourth but have Wrexham breathing down their necks.
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Adran Trophy
Last weekend saw the weather win, but one week later, Briton Ferry and Aberystwyth Town faced off in the quarterfinals of the Adran Trophy. It wasn’t pretty, but late drama saw Ferry ease through 1-0.
Half chances dominated the first half, and most of them came from Briton Ferry. Meg Kearle, Brooke Llewelyn, and Jess Denscombe all saw their sighters on goal saved by Chelsea Herbert. At the other end, Aberystwyth had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be ruled out due to a foul on Courtney Young.
It was the same story in the second half. Alison Witts saw the ball flash over the crossbar, while Aber players put their bodies on the line and blocking everything coming their way. They wanted to see the game go to penalties.
But in added time, the Aber wall crumbled. Kearle’s free kick into the area was put into her own net by Josie Pugh to send the home side into the final four.
They join TNS, Swansea City and Wrexham in the semis, the draw for which takes place on Wednesday night.
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Adran North
Connah’s Quay kept their place at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Bangor.
What a campaign it has been for Polly Wild-McGregor so far. Having taken the captaincy at the start of the season, Wild-McGregor has gone from strength to strength. In yesterday’s fixture, the youngster grabbed a hat-trick, and that took her to ten goals for the season, making her the league’s top scorer heading into the winter break.
Anais Bathily scored the other goal, as the Nomads made it six wins from six in the league.
Llandudno stayed three points behind the leaders with a 6-0 win away at NFA.
There’s been a lot of change in personnel at Dudno over the last few weeks, but that didn’t stop them from recording a big win. There was a brace for Maddie Williams, while Jasmin Dutton, Rebecca Jarvis-Evans, Kelsey Davies, and Sioned Phillips also got on the scoresheet. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect day for the Seasiders was the sending off of Caitlin Hadaway.
Game of the day came at Mount Field, where two of the league’s surprise packages, Llanfair United and Flint Town United, faced off. As expected, there was drama and goals galore, as Llanfair ran out 4-3 winners.
The first half saw five goals, four of which came the way of Llanfair. There were two for Harriet Davies, along with a goal each for Paris Schofield and Millie Evans. Shona Roberts did briefly make it 2-1 at one stage, but Flint were blown away in the first half.
To their credit, Flint rallied back in the second half with strikes from Kaelyn Williams and Rosie Hughes, but they left themselves too much to do, as Llanfair end 2024 in third place.
Elsewhere, Felinheli picked up their second win of the season, triumphing 2-1 over Rhyl.
Rhyl opened the deadlock in just two minutes through Rosie O’Brien, but Y Felin equalised midway through the second half through Katie Midwinter. The goal scorer would be sent off later in the half, but it mattered not in the end, as Elsi Williams scored a 90th minute winner for the hosts.
Adran South
Cwmbran Celtic will be top of the tree at Christmas in the Adran South, after they won 6-1 at home to Caldicot Town.
The ever-reliable Jade Crofts scored a hat-trick, Lauren Boyd scored two, with captain Eloise Meaney picking up one. Claudia Meyrick scored a consolation goal for Caldicot to make it 4-1, but it wasn’t to be, as Cwmbran strengthened their grasp on top spot.
Hot on their heels are Pontypridd United, after they defeated Llanelli Town 6-1 away from home.
No one in the country is having as good a season as Nicole Fenton. The starlet scored four and assisted one in the big win. That now means, so far this campaign, Fenton has ten goals and eleven assists across all competitions. Caitlin Seaborne and Ffion Evans were also amongst the goals, while Courtney Butt scored the only goal for Llanelli.
And finally, Swansea University made it two wins on the bounce, thanks to a 3-0 home win over Penybont.
Kayleigh Hateley put the Students ahead from the penalty spot, but when Penybont had a chance to equalise from the spot a couple of minutes later, Maddie Priday failed to convert. That gave Swansea the boost they needed to go on and win the game, thanks to goals from Charley Haynes and Hannah Pinney.
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