Impetus’ Martin Townley brings us the first of his weekly round-up of all the action from the top flight of women’s football in Wales with Round Two of the season taking place (22/9/22).
Above: Stacey John-Davis scores the winning goal for Swansea City against Barry Town United. Photo: Swansea City.
Both Swansea City and Cardiff City continued their winning ways, while Cardiff Met bounced back from defeat last week to pick up their first win. Pontypridd United also picked up their first win as they beat Aberystwyth Town.
Both Abergavenny Town and The New Saints are still looking for their first points with both sides losing both their opening matches. Barry Town were denied a point after a strong performance against champions Swansea City.
Swansea City 1-0 Barry Town United
Having won both fixtures 5-0 last season, Swansea were expected to win. They did, but only by a goal as a resilient defence performance by Barry meant Stacy John-Davis’s penalty was all that separated the two sides at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.
Monet Legall broke past the Barry defence into the box but was brought down by Barry keeper Erin Brennan. John-Davis stepped and as she does so often fired the ball into the top right corner. With Swansea in control of most of the game, Jessica Williams volleyed an effort over after a cross from Ellie Lake.
In the second half, Williams headed wide from another Lake cross and Katy Hosford and John-Davis tried to catch Brennan off her line with lobs but couldn’t find the net.
Swansea City: Claire Skinner, Alicia Powe, Ellie Lake, Emma Beynon, Kelly Adams, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis, Monet Legall (Nia Rees 58), Lucy Finch, Laura Davies (Nieve Jenkins 71), Jessica Williams. Unused subs: Chelsea Herbert, Chloe Tiley, Gwenan Horgan.
Barry Town United: Erin Brennan, Lauren Harris, Delia Ebbin, Hana Bennett, Taite Trivett (Nia Davies 65), Anna Houghton, Mackenzie Olden (Rhian Thomas 77 (Olivia Townsend 87)), Manon Pearce, Emily Nicholson (Maisy Fahey-Pennell 65), Faith Mulenga, Chloe Jones. Unused subs: Ruby Hamed-Jones.
Abergavenny Town 0-5 Cardiff City
Cardiff made it two from two as they hammered newly promoted Abergavenny at Pen-Y-Pound Stadium. Two first-half goals from Danielle Green gave the Bluebirds the lead at the break. Danielle Broadhurst made it 3-0 just before the hour mark. Captain Siobhan Walsh added a fourth and Rhianne Oakley made it five with her first goal for Cardiff after moving from Swansea in the summer.
Green was looking dangerous throughout the opening 45 minutes, and it was a pass from Phoebie Poole that found her free in the box. Green with a clinical finish to score. Green got her second firing in at the back post after a ball to her from Hannah Power.
The Bluebirds kept the pressure on The Pennies in the second half and were rewarded when Danielle Broadhurst finished off a flowing move. Soon after and Seren Watkin’s corner was turned in by a powerful header from Siobhan Walsh. Rianne Oakley added a fifth after 74 minutes.
Abergavenny Town: Charlotte Hastings, Katie Williams, Ffion Simmonds, Mali Summers, Scarlett Teague, Olivia Barnes, Ceri Hudson (C), Elena Scrivens (Mia Sherrard 68), Ellis Lunn (Caitlin Davies 45), Eliza Atkins (Gracie Grosvenor 54), Lauren Boyd (Elie Bidhendy 85). Unused Subs: Neve Speicher.
Cardiff City: Ceryn Chamberlain (Emily Roberts 68), Ffion Price (Elise Hughes 65), Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh (C), Rhianne Oakley, Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst (Lilly Billingham 68), Danielle Green, Phoebie Poole (Megan Saunders 68), Hollie Smith (Megan Bowen 65), Zoe Atkins.
Cardiff Met 3-0 The New Saints
Cardiff Met got their season running with a 3-0 win over The New Saints (TNS) at Cyncoed Campus. It was a second defeat for TNS and leaves them in seventh place.
Robyn Pinder got the Archers off to a good start with her first goal for the club after just eight minutes. Ellie Preece made it two nil after 13 minutes and Met went into the break leading.
Preece added a third with her second in the second half and help Cardiff Met to their first win of the season.
Cardiff Met: Amelia Forkings, Amy Long, Grace Corne, Tija Richardson, Sophie Turner (C), Sophie Hancocks, Ellie Preece (Kennesha Nanette 89), Jessica Westhoff (Emily Allen 57), Erin Murray (Evie Griffiths 74), Robyn Pinder, Elianna Chavez. Unused Subs: Millie Everest.
The New Saints: Sarah Parkes (Libby Rubin 34), Beth Lewis (C), Jen Jarvie (Nicole Samson 49), Lexie Harrison, Danielle Staley, Lucie Platt, Tia Lockley, Caitlin Chapman, Helen Evans (Lily Whitefoot 85), Isobel Redding, Lia Lewis.
Aberystwyth Town 1-2 Pontypridd United
Pontypridd Town picked up a big away win as they beat Aberystwyth 2-1 at Park Avenue. Liv Francis and Alanna Trinci with the goals for the Dragons and Tania Wylde for Aber.
It was a good first half for the Dragons as despite the hosts having the better of the possession, Liv Francis give the visitors the lead just before half-time.
Anais Trinci with her first goal of the season made it 2-0 to Pontypridd. The Green and Blacks looked to get back into the game and with just over ten minutes to play pulled one back thanks to a penalty from Tania Wylde.
Aber couldn’t complete the fight back and manager Gavin Allen rued his side’s missed chances. “We created so many chances without taking some fantastic opportunities to win the game,
“On reflection, we should have been two or three nil up at halftime. But that’s the level of football. If you don’t take your chances, teams in the Adran Premier will come back and bite you.”
Aberystwyth Town: Elen Valentine, Lucie Gwilt (Hannah Pusey 62), Rebecca Mathias, Elin Jones, Bethan Roberts (Tania Wylde 68), Kelly Thomas, Libby Isaac (Kelsey Thomas 59), Shauna Chambers (Gwenllian Jones 59), Carys Davies (Ffiona Evans 46), Amy Jenkins.
Pontypridd Town: Masie Jones, Clare Daley, Holly Broad (C), Emily Bayliss (Kirsty Pervin-Davies 68), Renee Day (Olivia Barnett 59), Ellie Gunney, Liv Francis (Sophie Bevan 90+7), Anais Trinci (Paige Ward 90+7), Shannon Greenway, Carys Bufton (Efa Preece-Jones 68), Jasmine Turner.
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