Martin Townley rounds up all the weekend’s action across the Adran Premier, North, and South (7/2/23).
Above: Emily Ridge (centre) celebrates with Chantelle Teare (right), and Lucie Platt after The New Saints scored their fourth goal to seal their spot in the Championship conference. Photo: Andrew Donnison F28 Online.
The New Saints dramatically secured their place in the Adran Premier Championship conference with a 4-0 win over Abergavenny.
The Saints need to overturn a four-goal difference to jump above Pontypridd and qualify for the Championship conference for the first time.
Briton Ferry won again to pull five points clear at the top of the Adran South. Caldicot Town got their first point of the season drawing with Swansea Uni.
Both of the top two won in the Adran North as Connah’s Quay beat Llanfair United and Wrexham beat Llandudno. Connah’s Quay sit top a point ahead of Wrexham, but Wrexham have a game in hand.
Adran Premier
The New Saints 4-0 Abergavenny
In the final game of phase one TNS, welcomed Abergavenny to Park Hall knowing that they would need to win by four goals to grab the final spot in the Championship conference. Just ten months ago TNS retained their Adran Premier status on the final day of the season with a win over Port Talbot Town.
Fast forward to this weekend and they had the chance to join the elite of Welsh football in the Championship conference. TNS legend Greg Draper masterminded a 4-0 win which secured his team’s spot on goals scored.
Knowing they need not only a win but a big win, TNS attacked from the start. Caitlin Chapman hit an early shot wide, and Emily Ridge hit a shot straight at Aber keeper Charlotte Hastings.
After 22 minutes the Saints were in the lead Lucie Platt firing in from close range after a scramble in the box.
Just past the half-hour mark and TNS got their second. Hastings failed to deal with Catlin Campman’s cross and Helen Evans tapped in at the back post.
When the teams came back out TNS struggled to create chances and add the two goals they needed. That was until the 72nd minute when Isobel Redding headed in from Chapman’s corner.
Needing just one more goal the Saints left it late to add the fourth. With two minutes to go Helen Evans’ pass split the Abergavenny defence and found Emily Ridge. Ridge struck the ball on the edge of the box and saw it go in off the post.
TNS will now await the release of Phase two fixtures on the 7th February.
Adran South
Briton Ferry Llansawel 4-0 Pontardawe Town
Leaders Briton Ferry made it five wins from five in 2023 with a 4-0 win over a tough and hard-working Pontardawe Town.
Lowri Ridings gave the Reds the lead five minutes before halftime when she headed in from Megan Kearle’s corner. Ferry doubled the lead five minutes later as Lowri Baker struck after a quality pass from Laura-May Walkley.
They got a third when Lucy Powell found Lowri Baker out wide and Baker’s cross across goal was tapped in by Megan Kearle.
Captain Lowri Ridings added a fourth in added time heading in from a Lucy Powell corner.
Caldicot Town 1-1 Swansea University
A first point of the season for Caldicot as they held Swansea Uni to a 1-1 draw. Hannah Foulkes converted from the spot for Caldicot in the 55th minute but it was wiped out when Katie Horsburgh equalised in the 71st minute. Caldicot remain bottom while Swansea Uni sit fourth a point behind third-place Pontardawe.
Adran North
Llandudno 0-5 Wrexham
Rosie Hughes scored a hat trick in Wrexham’s 5-0 win over Llandudno. Hughes has now scored 28 goals across all competitions this season. Rebecca Pritchard scored from the spot and Libby Mackenzie added her 7th of the season.
Wrexham sit in second a point behind Connah’s Quay with a game in hand.
Llanfair United 2-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Harriet Davies gave Llanfair the lead over the leaders after six minutes but Sienna Strapp levelled two minutes after. Gemma Jones put the host back in front but again they were pegged back when Tamara Hamer scored.
Just before the hour mark Kriste Kural scored what would be the winning goal for the Nomads.
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 4-3 Airbus UK Broughton
Another defeat for Airbus as they lost 4-3 at Rhyl. Tegan Crockett, Chelsea Evans, and two from Rachael Nattrass giving Rhyl the win.
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