Listen to our weekly Adran Leagues Show Podcast above, as we discussed the latest in the women’s football action with Cascade YC midfielder Iris Jones!
The Genero Adran Trophy Final headlined the weekend’s action in women’s football in Cymru, as Wrexham AFC claimed their first piece of major silverware, in a penalty shootout win against Cardiff City.
A crowd of 1374 at the Bangor City Stadium saw a matchup between two heavyweights in Cymru that couldn’t be separated in 90 minutes, in a 2-2 draw which saw Wrexham come from behind twice in the game.
Cardiff City took the lead in just six minutes, in what looked like a Mikayla Wildgoose own goal. A left-footed delivery from a right corner-kick by Mackenzie Olden was flicked on at the front post, going all the way in past Wrexham goalkeeper Liz Craven.
The Red Dragons equalised midway through the first half. Josie Smith was alert from a drop ball scenario through the middle to play a pass into Ava Suckely on the edge of the area, who fired an effort over Ceryn Chamberlain to level the game.
Just before the break, Cardiff went back in front. A well-hit free-kick from Mackenzie Olden hit the bar, before coming back out to Mikayla Cook in the area who fired home the rebound.
Wrexham mounted the pressure for an equaliser in the second half, and finally found one with ten minutes to go. Ava Suckely held the ball up down the right before laying a pass back to new signing Maria Francis-Jones, who fired an effort with her weaker left foot into the top left corner, to send the game to penalties.
The opening penalties from Katie Barker and Ffion Price were saved, before Mariam Mahmood put Wrexham ahead. Mackenzie Olden’s penalty was also saved, with Liz Craven proving to be a hero in the shootout.
All the remaining penalties were scored, with Faye Knox scoring the winning spot kick, just as she did earlier in the competition against Aberystwyth Town, to secure Wrexham AFC Women’s first piece of silverware.
Llandudno battled well to earn a point against Connah’s Quay Nomads, who fail to win for the first time in the Genero Adran North this season.
Tia Lockley went close in the first half with an effort cleared off the like, but The Nomads couldn’t find a way through, meaning their lead at the top is extended to seven points.
Cwmbran Celtic and Cascade YC couldn’t be separated in the midweek Genero Adran South action, in a 2-2 draw at Avondale Motor Park Arena.
Georgina Cridland gave Cwmbran the lead, before goals each side of the interval from Chrystalla Moreton put Cascade ahead in the game.
It was Cridland involved again to ensure Cwmbran took something from the game, setting up Casey Daniels in the closing stages of the game to fire home an equaliser.
The result sees Cascade extend the gap from the bottom to six points, after an impressive resurgence in the new year. Cwmbran remain in 5th with the point, with three games in hand on the teams above.
It was also Daniels’ second goal in two games, as Cwmbran progressed into the semi-finals of the Hugh James SWFA Cup on Sunday, in a 5-0 win against Cambrian United. Cardiff Met also progressed against Carmarthen Town.
2nd vs 4th in the South Wales Women’s and Girls’ League Combined produced a five-goal thriller between Ammanford AFC and Trefelin BGC, which saw the visitors come out on top.
It was Ammanford who went ahead early on through a Meleri Owen finish, but an equaliser from Becca Rees and a double before the break from Lauren Amor put Trefelin ahead.
An own goal saw Ammanford cut the deficit, but it wouldn’t be enough to claim something from the game, as Trefelin took home a 3-2 win.
Goytre AFC (Gwent) also kept the pressure on in the top half with a 3-0 win against Llanbradach AFC.
Division One saw Undy AFC win an 13-goal thriller against Abertillery Belles, in a 8-5 win for the side who jump up to 2nd. North Cardiff Cosmos Blue, AFC Llwydcoed and Llangynwyd Rangers all won in Division Two to continue their title push, whilst Graig Villa Dino and Ponthir AFC repeated that feat in Division Three.
Lowri Hughes’ 85th minute equaliser for CPD Pwllheli cancelled out a Lexi Walsh opener for Kinmel Bay in the North Wales Coast Llandudno Kia Women’s League, in what would be the latter’s final game for Kinmel.
A double from Phoebe Short saw Llanidloes Town continue their impressive run of form in the Central Wales North League, in a 2-0 win against Welshpool Town.
The top two also won, as Wrexham Foresters and Airbus Broughton both won against Northop Hall and Newtown AFC respectively. Berriew Development played out a goalless draw with Tregaron Turfs.
However, Berriew did claim three points in the midweek game. An own goal and a brace from Ellie Davies saw the side beat Newtown 3-0 at Latham Park.
Aberystwyth University continued their incredible season in the Tlysau Tanygroes Ceredigion League, with a 3-0 win against Bont. Nora Laziri opened the scoring, before second-half goals from Liz Norvill and Sophie Davies wrapped up the victory.
Haverfordwest County AFC had to come from behind to ensure their 100% record in the Perago West Wales Women’s League Division One stayed intact, and to avoid pressure from Mumbles Rangers who also won.
Clydach were the opponents for the Bluebirds, who went ahead through Chelsea James in the 25th minutes. Freya Marshall equalised for Haverfordwest just before halftime.
Kayla Jones found the winning goal for the league leaders in the 25th minute, to ensure they kept their six point gap from Mumbles.
Burry Port also won to move up to 3rd, whilst in Division Two, Pontarddulais Town Development, Tumble United AFC and Cwmamman United AFC were all victorious.
Results in Full | 22nd February
Genero Adran Trophy Final
Wrexham 2-2 Cardiff City (5-4 penalties)
Genero Adran North
Connah’s Quay Nomads 0-0 Llandudno
Genero Adran South
Cwmbran Celtic 2-2 Cascade YC (Wednesday 25th February)
South Wales Women’s and Girls’ League (SWWGL)
Combined
Ammanford AFC 2-3 Trefelin BGC
Goytre AFC (Gwent) 3-0 Llanbradach AFC
Division One
Coed Duon 6-1 Aberaman LGFC
Abertillery Belles 5-8 Undy AFC
Tonyrefail Welfare 1-1 Pontypridd AFC
Division Two
Treorchy BGC 1-2 Wattsville
Caerphilly Dragons 1-2 North Cardiff Cosmos Blue
AFC Llwydcoed 5-0 Rogerstone AFC
Sully Sports 0-11 Llangynwyd Rangers
Division Three
Graig Villa Dino 6-0 Broadlands AFC
Caerphilly Dragons Development 1-5 Aberfan
Canton 7-1 Holton Road AFC
Ponthir AFC 4-0 Undy AFC Reserves
Hugh James SWFA Quarter-Finals
Cambrian United 0-5 Cwmbran Celtic
Cardiff Met 3-1 Carmarthen Town
North Wales Coast Llandudno Kia Women’s League
CPD Pwllheli 1-1 Kinmel Bay
Central Wales North League
Airbus UK Broughton 8-0 Newtown AFC
Berriew Development 0-0 Tregaron Turfs
Wrexham Foresters 2-0 Northop Hall
Llanidloes Town 2-0 Welshpool Town
Newtown AFC 0-3 Berriew Development (Wednesday 25th February)
Tlysau Tanygroes Ceredigion League
Aberystwyth University 3-0 Bont
Perago West Wales League
Division One
Burry Port 4-1 Bryncoch
Clydach 1-2 Haverfordwest County AFC
Mumbles Rangers 7-2 Skewen
Division Two
Ystradgynlais AFC 0-5 Pontarddulais Town Development
Tumble United AFC 8-3 Drefach
Cwmamman United AFC 15-0 Clydach Reserves
