One more spot is up for grabs in the South Wales Women’s and Girls Combined League next season, as Caerau Ely and Clydach FC battle it out in Ystrad Mynach on Tuesday night for the prize of promotion to tier three.
Whilst most teams are well underway for their pre-season ahead of 2026/27, these two sides have the most important game in their recent history, in what would be another step closer to the Genero Adran Leagues. A game that was unexpected, and then rescheduled, we will finally see who makes it count.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game!
How both teams got here?
Both teams in the playoff finished 3rd in their respective leagues during the 2025/26 campaign.
SWWGL Division One side Caerau Ely, previously known as Cardiff Wanderers and now under the name of Caerau Ely Community, finished just five points behind Division One champions Llantwit Fardre, and one point behind 2nd placed Undy AFC, with both teams joining the SWWGL Combined next season.
Caerau Ely scored over 100 goals in the process, with 18 of those scored by 16-year-old Lola Hexter. The team’s top scorer joined Fairwater at the end of the campaign, but has returned in time for the playoff. They also possess the attacking ability of Sian Rees, who represented Barry Town United in the Genero Adran Premier. A clinical goalscorer during her time with The Linnets, Cascade and Cambrian United, Rees contributed to 20 goals last season.
Several goalscorers make up this Caerau Ely side, as do players from outside the area, with a number of players experiencing Welsh football for the first time. Captain of the side Mia Sparks previously represented Keynsham Town and Larkhall Athletic in the English FA Women’s National League, and has been key for Caerau Ely with 20 goal contributions.
Another unique journey to the success of Caerau Ely has been that of defender Lia Huws from North Wales. Having developed through at Caernarfon Town and featuring for Trearddur Bay in the North Wales Football League, Huws is studying in South Wales, where she has also played in the Genero Adran U19s League for Cardiff Met. A further signing for Caerau Ely more recently was central defender Emma Fay, making the move from Fairwater, having been a regular in the Combined League in recent seasons.
During the campaign, Manager Liam Bell Gutierrez also strengthened his midfield with the signing of Seren Farrup from Cambrian United, having also played for Swansea University in the Genero Adran South. In recent weeks, attacking midfielder Dani Buckland made the switch from Undy AFC, having contributed to 39 goals for the promoted side in 2025/26. Defensive midfielder Laurenne McNamara also made the move from Undy, having been key in their promotion.
Caerau Ely have never faced Clydach FC. Managed by Natalie Salter, Clydach have been on an incredible rise since forming in 2024. A 6th placed finish in their debut campaign in Division Two, would be followed by three wins from three in the early league group stages this season, and a 3rd placed finish in Division One. They’re now on the brink of promotion to tier three.
One of just a handful of teams to defeat league champions Haverfordwest County this season back in October, top scorer Chelsea James scored twice in that game. A clinical forward with Genero Adran Leagues experience during her time at Pontardawe Town, James is second top scorer in the league with 25 to her name, and has scored in all but one game for Clydach in 2026.
Ellie Dingwall has been another regular in the attack for Clydach across their two seasons as a team. The 20-year-old forward has contributed to 26 goals in 20 games across all competitions for the West Wales League side.
Joint vice-captain Lily Johnson has been a standout at the back since Clydach were formed, and will be vital to any success they have against a high-goalscoring side on Tuesday night. They’ve also added to the defence in recent days, with the signing of Evie Winter from Rockspur Fords Club.
A number of players in this Clydach side have been with the club since they formed two years ago, and having been through that journey together as a group, the elation of promotion to tier three would be unmatched, as another West Wales side looks to make a mark in the SWWGL Combined
What have they said ahead of the game?
Both camps have spoke ahead of the playoff game on Tuesday evening, with Clydach FC Player/Coach Sophie Davies saying that promotion to the SWWGL Combined would be a huge credit to the work of the squad in its short history.
“It’s been a very competitive season,” Davies explained. “That’s the nice thing about the West Wales League is that we have a lot of established teams and a lot of up and coming teams, it just shows the strong uptake of female football in West Wales.
“Given that this is Clydach Women’s second season as a team, it just shows how strong of a foundation we’ve created to actually get into this position to potentially be promoted.
“It would be fantastic, as a team that’s only been established for two years, to have another promotion in our second year, I think that would just be a huge showcase to the hard work that the girls have put in over the last few years.
Listen to the full interview with Sophie Davies of Clydach FC here!
“In the season we’ve beaten teams that have gained promotion. I do think that we are deserving of a place in tier three. It’s going to be an exciting opportunity, and it’s something everyone is really looking forward to.“
Caerau Ely captain Mia Sparks has experienced Welsh football for the first time in 2025/26, having previously played as high as tier three in the English football pyramid.
After a well-battled campaign which saw Caerau Ely fall just short, Sparks is hoping the players can step up and get promotion over the line.
She said: “This is my first season playing in the Welsh leagues, so it’s a new challenge and at the start of the season I didn’t really know what I was walking into, but it’s nice to have these really competitive games.
“The girls work so hard and they’re so excited to play a new team. It will be a great challenge for us and hopefully we can rise to the occasion.”
Liam Bell Gutierrez took over as Caerau Ely Manager last year, whilst still under the name of Cardiff Wanderers.
Also Head of Women’s Football at the club, Gutierrez is looking forward to the opportunity of promotion through the playoff, and end goal they were striving for throughout the campaign.
Listen to the full interview with Caerau Ely here!
“For us as a club it’s a really positive thing to have this opportunity,” he said. “We obviously really wanted to go up all season, so to have that chance is a good thing.
“It is strange how it’s come upon us, but that’s for us to deal with and get on with. We were ready to go again, and if we were to stay down this season to win that league. But ultimately we want to be in the division above it and further, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Match Details
(Pic by Geraint Nicholas/FAW)
Tuesday evening’s SWWGL Combined League Tier Three Playoff between Caerau Ely and Clydach will be played at the CCB Centre For Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, with a 7:30pm kickoff.
The referee for the game is Marco Griffiths, assisted by Liam Cooper and Mark Cooper.
Admission is free for the fixture, and if the game is level after 90 minutes, penalties will decide the winner, and ultimately promotion up to the SWWGL Combined League, joining the already promoted Llantwit Fardre, Undy AFC and Haverfordwest County.
