Cardiff City were the latest side to make a statement in the Genero Adran Premier title race, in a dramatic finale against Wrexham AFC in South Wales.
The late kick-off of the day in Sunday’s fixtures, all eyes were on the Cardiff International Sports Stadium, as Jenny Sugarman’s Wrexham travelled south as league leaders to face the current champions Cardiff City, with Iain Darbyshire’s side chasing the high-flying Red Dragons.
A 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Buckley, it was a close encounter where the two sides couldn’t be separated. Wrexham took the lead that day, but it was a complete opposite start to this game. Brilliant footwork from Mikayla Cook allowed her to beat Hannah Snape down the right, before her effort into the area went off Wrexham defender Erin Lovett and into the back of the net.
Whilst the Bluebirds started the better and had control, Wrexham looked dangerous from the counter-attack and as always, from set-pieces.
They’ve enjoyed success from dead ball scenarios this season, and it was no different on this occasion. A left-footed cross into the area from Hannah Snape found Faye Knox, who headed home past the oncoming Ceryn Chamberlain to level the game.
Both sides continued to create chances, with Faye Knox firing over from just a few yards out, a similar opportunity to that of Mikayla Cook in the first half who also couldn’t convert. A game with a lot at stake and any composure proving vital, and it would be exactly that with just seconds remaining.
City defender Nieve Jenkins floated a perfect pass into the path of substitute Fiona Barry, and just as she did in the last game between these two sides, fired into the back of the net, putting Cardiff City within two points of Wrexham in a 2-1 win in the Genero Adran Premier with a game in hand.
A big result ahead of Phase Two for a Cardiff side who last entered that stage of the season outside of 1st place in 2022. Win all their remaining Phase One games, and that won’t be changing.
A weekend affected by the snow and icy conditions across Wales meant only a few games were played, with only two games in the Adran Premier being played. The other top flight game saw Barry Town United claim an important 4-1 win against Pontypridd United.
Beca Thomas and Erin Murray scored first half goals to put The Linnets in control, before an early second half goal from Lucy Attwood made it three.
Madison Lloyd responded for Ponty just a minute after Barry’s third, but Ellie Gunney scored immediately after from a set piece to score Barry Town’s fourth of the game and put the game out of sight.
A convincing win for Barry who had to come from behind in dramatic style last time they played Pontypridd. The win takes them up to 6th with 13 points.
A highlight of the game also saw youngsters Cerys Molden-Spiller and Eleni Tucker featuring in their first Adran Premier matchday squad, with the latter coming on for her Barry debut in the first half. Tucker has been with Barry since U7’s, progressing through the club’s pathway.
It was a successful day for Genero Adran South sides competing in the Hugh James SWFA Women’s Cup Round Three, with Penybont, Cwmbran Celtic and Cascade YC all progressing.
Catrin Edwards scored a hattrick for Penybont in their 7-0 win over Fairwater. Poppi Coggins, Maddie Priday, Erin Bater and Layla Williams were all also on the scoresheet for Leon Williams’s side.
Cwmbran put ten past Coed Duon as they progressed to the Quarter-Finals. Lauren Boyd, Eloise Meaney and Gracie Grosvenor all scored two each. Jodie Challenger, Fiona Anthony, Hollie Channing also scored for Georgia Shwartz’ Celtic side.
Ellis Lunn scored six in Cascade’s 9-1 win over Llantwit Fardre. Olivia Townsend also scored, whilst Emily Wells and Trinity Reakes, both 16, scored their first senior goals for Cascade. Amber Timol replied for Fardre but its Cascade who progress.
Cardiff City U19s were the other side to book their spot in the Quarter-Finals from the games played. Eliza Keane scored a first half hattrick, scoring five through the game in a 10-1 win over Sully Sports. Paige Parsons scored twice, whilst Elffin Bryant, Elexis Lowe and Aoibheann Ryan-Jones also found the back of the net. 16-year-old Alice Bennett found the back of the net for Sully Sports.
With most of the South Wales Women’s and Girls’ League affected by the weather, there were two games that survived, both in Division Three.
Aberfan took another step up the table, in a 9-0 win over Coed Eva Athletic which put them up to 3rd in the table.
Lucy Sullivan scored six times for the away side, whilst former Taffs Well youngster Tabitha Ryan bagged a brace, with the other goal in the game being an own goal.
A thriller between Caerphilly Dragons Development and Broadlands AFC ended 5-5, with a last minute equaliser for Caerphilly.
The first half saw Broadlands make an immediate response to an early Caerphilly opener. Summer Williams gave Caerphilly Dragons Development the lead, before Macey James levelled things up for Broadlands. An own goal put the away side ahead for the first time, before James scored again immediately after to make the game 3-1 going into the break.
Caerphilly had a quick start to the second half and were 4-3 up within nine minutes of the restart. Hannah Beavan, Emily James-Brown, and Darcy Venn all scored, in a quick turnaround.
However, there was more drama to come, as Broadlands AFC went ahead again. James completed her hattrick, and for the second time in the game they went ahead, this time through Caitlyn Payne who calmly finished one-on-one, to get her name on the scoresheet.
It looked like the visitors would claim maximum points, but there was another turn in the game. Caerphilly Dragons Development were awarded a penalty, and up stepped Paige Needham to fire home the equaliser, with the game finishing level.
In the FA Women’s National League, Gwalia United completed a comeback win against Billericay Town to give new boss Cori Williams-Mills her first win, to lift the side out of the relegation zone.
Yaz Cowley gave Billericay the lead, before goals from Georgia Walters and Beth McGowan claimed a huge three points in a 2-1 victory, as Gwalia battle to stay in the English third tier.
Results in Full | 4th January
Genero Adran Premier
Aberystwyth Town P-P Briton Ferry Llansawel (Postponed)
Barry Town United 4-1 Pontypridd United
Swansea City P-P The New Saints (Postponed)
Cardiff City 2-1 Wrexham AFC
Bute Energy Welsh Cup Last 16
Llandudno P-P Wrexham Foresters (Postponed)
South Wales Women’s and Girls’ League (SWWGL)
Combined League
Penydarren BGC P-P Goytre AFC (Gwent) (Postponed)
Division One
Cardiff Wanderers P-P Abertillery Belles (Postponed)
Nantyglo P-P Porth Harlequins BGC (Postponed)
Aberaman P-P Barry Athletic (Postponed)
Division Two
Treorchy BGC P-P Cwmbran Celtic Reserves (Postponed)
Penywaun P-P Croesyceiliog AFC (Postponed)
Tondu United P-P Rogerstone AFC (Postponed)
AFC Llwydcoed P-P Llangynwyd Rangers (Postponed)
Goytre AFC (Gwent) Development P-P North Cardiff Cosmos Blue (Postponed)
Wattsville P-P Cwm Welfare AFC (Postponed)
Division Three
Graig Villa Dino P-P Undy AFC Reserves (Postponed)
Coed Eva Athletic 0-9 Aberfan
Caerphilly Dragons Development 5-5 Broadlands AFC
Taffs Well Development P-P Llanyrafon Junior (Postponed)
North Cardiff Cosmos Red P-P Ponthir AFC (Postponed)
Hugh James SWFA Cup Round Three
Sully Sports 1-10 Cardiff City U19s
Carmarthen Town P-P Caerphilly Dragons (Postponed)
Cascade YC 9-1 Llantwit Fardre
Holton Road AFC P-P Undy AFC (Postponed)
Coed Duon 0-10 Cwmbran Celtic
Penybont 7-0 Fairwater
Pontarddulais Town P-P Cardiff Met (Postponed)
Cambrian United P-P Barry Town United U19s (Postponed)
Alun Evans League Cup Round One
Johnstown AFC P-P Tonyrefail Welfare (Postponed)
Central Wales North League
Berriew Development P-P Newtown AFC (Postponed)
FA Women’s National League Southern Division
Gwalia United 2-1 Billericay Town
