Genero Adran Trophy drama and important wins for Llangefni Town and Haverfordwest County | Women’s Football in Wales Roundup | 14th December

Featured Image | Ashley Crowden/FAW

Cardiff City, Wrexham, The New Saints and Briton Ferry Llansawel all progressed into the semi finals of the Genero Adran Trophy on Sunday afternoon. There were also important wins for Llangefni, Haverfordwest County and Tregaron Turfs in the league, whilst many teams progressed in their own Cup competitions, as we focus on the game between Cwmbran Celtic Reserves and North Cardiff Cosmos Blue.

*Lots more to be discussed on the Adran League Show this week!

The closest game in the Trophy was to be found at The Rock where once again, Aberystwyth Town gave high flying Wrexham a scare. Last week it was in the Adran Premier, this time it was in the Adran Trophy, where penalties had to decide the two teams.

Both teams made changes from last week, with Aber making the most significant, with outfield player Amy Jenkins stepping in as goalkeeper for the game, something she has done on a few occasions in the past for The Seasiders. It didn’t phase Aber, with the game goalless at halftime, despite Wrexham hitting the woodwork on a few occasions.

However, it would be the hosts who would take the lead, and in a repeat of last week’s game it was Rosie Hughes to break the deadlock.

Another change in Aber’s team was the returning Lily Moralee-Hughes, who had been suspended for the past few games. She brought Aber back into the game, on the 71st minute, firing an effort into the roof of the net.

Minutes later, Wrexham went back ahead, through a close range Jodie Bartle finish, and it looked like the game would be ending in a similar way.

In the fixture last week, Aber kept pushing until the end for an equaliser but couldn’t find one. This time, they found one. Summer signing Millie Gardner scored deep into added time after a brilliant early cross into the back post by Lita Egan, to take the game to penalties.

After both teams scored all four of their opening penalties, Imi Scourfield’s penalty hit the post, allowing Faye Knox to send Jenny Sugarman’s side into the Semi-Finals, surviving yet another scare from an Aber side who continue to make themselves difficult to beat.

Cardiff City were victorious in the latest South Wales derby, in a 6-0 win over Swansea City away at Llandarcy.

It’s the biggest result in the fixture in terms of goal margin since 2021, when the Swans beat the Bluebirds 6-0 in the Welsh Women’s Premier League.

Times have changed since that, and so often Cardiff City are the winning side.

They were 2-0 up with just 11 minutes played. City captain Hannah Power scored her second goal of the campaign in all competitions with a headed finish, before Kerry Walklett doubled the advantage. Mackenzie Olden added a third for Iain Darbyshire’s side just before the break.

Two goals from Fiona Barry and an unfortunate Eilish Mitchell own goal was met with no reply from Swansea, who just couldn’t get going despite an improved season for The Swans going into this game.

It means the final of the Genero Adran Trophy will see a different team competing this season, with last year’s runners up Swansea City now out.

The reigning champions The New Saints did make it through though, but had to comeback from a goal down early on against Pontypridd United.

The inform Madison Lloyd scored early on to give Ponty the lead, and was causing all sorts of problems throughout the game for The New Saints.

With Mike Harris in charge on an interim basis, TNS responded quickly, and were 2-1 up on the half hour mark.

Lexie Harrison and Maria Francis-Jones both struck towards goal, with the latter being a corner, both goals going in off Ponty goalkeeper Anna Phelps. Another corner, this time for Kelsey Richardson, found Tiggy Webb just before the break to extend TNS’ lead.

The New Saints wrapped it up in the second half, with goals from Lexie Harrison and Maria Francis-Jones, this time going down as their goals.

Briton Ferry Llansawel beat Barry Town United for a third time this campaign, with a 2-0 win over The Linnets at the Renewable Centre Stadium.

Jade Crofts gave Rhys Thomas’ side an early lead in the game, before an early second half strike from Maia Owen was enough to see off the game for Briton Ferry, to send them into the Semi-Finals again. Another big impact in that game by Laura-May Walkley-Witts, who assisted both goals for Ferry.

Elsewhere in Wales, Llangefni Town continued their unbeaten start to the North Wales Coast Llandudno Kia Women’s League, with a 3-0 win over NFA.

Mared Roberts, Ffion Owen and Amber Brown all scored to continue their push for Adran Leagues football.

Elsewhere in Tier Three, there was an important win for Tregaron Turfs in the Central Wales North League against Northop Hall, with both sides pushing towards the top end of the division. A brace from Delun Roberts and a goal from Lucy Osborne gave Tregaron a 3-0 lead going into the break. Taylor Roberts got a goal back early in the second half for Northop Hall, but Lucy Osborne completed a hattrick to make sure of the win. Tyler Price scored later on for the hosts but it would only be a consolation for the 2nd placed Northop Hall.

The win means Tregaron stay in 4th, but it’s a statement result against a side above them in the table.

Haverfordwest County beat Burry Port 3-1 to make it five wins from five in the Perago West Wales League Division One, which puts them six points clear at the top of tier four.

A brace from captain Ffion Kirk put the newly formed side ahead. Carla Giannini put Burry Port back in the game with an immediate response. 16-year-old league top scorer Kayla Jones scored late on for Haverfordwest to make sure of the win.

Genero Adran South side Cardiff Met were in the action in the Hugh James SWFA Women’s Cup, as they completed a professional performance against Tonyrefail Welfare, as Met progressed into Round Three with a 9-0 win.

Molly Chapman, Grace-Mae Howard and Hannah Rayner all scored two each. Megan Gladwyn and Catrin Lemos also scored, whilst there was also an own goal, to see Met progress in the competition.

Featured Match Report: Cwmbran Celtic Reserves 4-0 North Cardiff Cosmos Blue | SWWGL Alun Evans League Cup Round One

Cymru Sport attendance at the SWWGL Alun Evans League Cup, as a strong Cwmbran Celtic Reserves side progressed against SWWGL Division Two leaders North Cardiff Cosmos.

A game which started quite end-to-end, with both sides having their fair share of chances. However, the hosts looked more likely of scoring, especially with the pace they had in their frontline.

Cwmbran Celtic Reserves opened the scoring on the 25th minute of the game. A brilliant strike from outside the area from Alex Cridland found the top left corner, putting Celtic one up.

Six minutes later it was two, and it came from some really good work by Mia Peacock, who put in an incredible shift throughout the game. A run down the right allowed the forward to cross into the back post, finding Chloe Leonard, who guided an effort into the bottom left corner, doubling the lead for Cwmbran Celtic.

North Cardiff Cosmos kept battling away, and had chances of their own. Courtney Griffiths and Lucie Norman, who were so good for their U19s side last season, tested the Cwmbran Celtic goal, but couldn’t find a way past Celtic goalkeeper Hollie Jarman. Ellie Harris also performed well for Cosmos, with the former Cardiff City midfielder creating chances in behind the Cwmbran defence on occasions, whilst also proving vital for Cosmos in several defensive situations.

Cwmbran Celtic made sure of their progression in the competition in the last five minutes of the game. Teagan Eley finished from a tight angle after rounding the goalkeeper, whilst Gracie Grosvenor placed an effort into the bottom right corner, seeing out a 4-0 win for the hosts.

Results in Full | 14th December

Genero Adran Trophy Quarter finals

Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-0 Barry Town United

Wrexham AFC 2-2 (5-4 penalties) Aberystwyth Town

The New Saints 5-1 Pontypridd United

Swansea City 0-6 Cardiff City

North Wales Coast Llandudno Kia Women’s League

Kinmel Bay 6-1 CPDM Henllan

CPDM Llanystumdwy P-P Denbigh Town

NFA 0-3 Llangefni Town

North East Wales Development League

CPD Cei Connah P-P Northop Hall Blues

Central Wales North League

Newtown AFC 1-1 Welshpool Town (Friday 12th December, 7:45pm kickoff)

Buckley Town P-P Wrexham Foresters

Coedpoeth United 1-4 Berriew Development

Llanidloes Town 0-2 Airbus UK Broughton

Northop Hall 2-5 Tregaron Turfs

Perago West Wales Women’s League

Division One

Burry Port 1-3 Haverfordwest County

Talycopa 4-2 Bryncoch

Division Two

Cwmamman United AFC 0-3 Rockspur

Tumble United AFC A-A Clydach Reserves

Rosehill 3-8 Pontarddulais Town Development

Resolven AFC 4-4 Penclawdd AFC Seconds

South Wales Women’s and Girls’ League (SWWGL)

Alun Evans League Cup Round One

Penydarren BGC 0-5 Cambrian United (1pm kickoff)

Pontypridd AFC 2-2 (2-1 penalties) Abertillery Belles

Graig Villa Dino 5-3 Goytre AFC (Gwent) Development

Penclawdd 8-0 Canton

Pontarddulais Town P-P Barry Town United Linnets (Postponed)

Undy AFC 2-2 (3-4 penalties) Llantwit Fardre

Undy AFC Reserves 0-7 Ponthir AFC

Fairwater 0-6 Goytre AFC (Gwent)

Caerphilly Dragons Development 2-10 Coed Duon

Barry Athletic 3-0 Ammanford

Llanyrafon Junior P-P Llanbradach AFC

Talgarth Town 1-0 Porth Harlequins BGC.

Cwmbran Celtic Reserves 4-0 North Cardiff Cosmos Blue

Hugh James SWFA Women’s Cup Round Two

Tonyrefail Welfare 0-9 Cardiff Met

Division One

Cardiff Wanderers 17-1 Aberaman LGFC (3pm kickoff)

Division Two

AFC Llwydcoed 1-2 Penywaun

Rogerstone AFC 2-1 Wattsville

Llangynwyd Rangers P-P Croesyceiliog AFC

Cwm Welfare AFC P-P Sully Sports

Tondu United 0-1 Caerphilly Dragons

Division Three

Coed Eva Atheltic 1-2 Broadlands AFC (12:30pm kickoff)

Taffs Well Development 11-0 North Cardiff Cosmos Red

Treforest FC 1-12 Holton Road

FA Women’s National League Southern Division

Gwalia United 1-6 Exeter City