Martin Townley and Perry Dobbins combine to deliver excellent coverage of the weekend’s games in Wales’ top leagues. Martin rounds up the action, and Perry‘s photo gallery this week comes from the Adran Premier game between Cardiff City and The New Saints (28/3/23).
Above: Cardiff City celebrate after clinching the Genero Adran Premier championship. Photo: Perry Dobbins.
Cardiff City ended a ten-year wait to lift the Genero Adran Premier title after a 3-1 win over The New Saints. Abergavenny will drop back down to the Adran South after a 5-1 defeat to Pontypridd. Swansea City continued their good run with a win over Cardiff Met.
In the Adran North, Wrexham capped off their fantastic season with a 2-1 win over Connah’s Quay Nomads in front of a record crowd of over 9,500.
Briton Ferry Llansawel confirmed the Adran South title in mid-week after a 3-1 win over Caldicot. Cascade will finish in second and they inflicted a 13th defeat on Caldicot with a 6-1 win.
Adran Premier
Swansea City 3-0 Cardiff Met
Swansea pulled further away from Met with a 3-0 win to ensure a second-placed finish in the table. A first-half goal from Chloe Chivers set the Swans on their way. Swansea left it late to extend the lead with Nia Rees and Megan Saunders (penalty) adding goals in the last ten minutes. Swansea will finish second despite only losing one game this season.
Abergavenny 1-5 Pontypridd United
Pontypridd move six points clear in the Plate Conference with a big win over Abergavenny.
Holly Broad, Olivia Francis, Evie Hughes, Cerys Bufton and Lucy Jones were all on the scoresheet.
Barry Town United 0-2 Aberystwyth Town
Captain Kelly Thomas finally got the goal she had been waiting for as Aberystwyth Town picked up a solid 2-0 win away at Barry Town United, writes Aberystwyth Town Media Team.
Tania Wylde had opened the scoring on 15 minutes from the penalty spot – and skipper Thomas got on the scoresheet for the first time this season three minutes into the second half, sending home a Shauna Chambers cross left-footed at the back post.
It was her first goal in the league since October 2020, in a losing effort to Cascade.
The afternoon was marred only by an ankle injury to goalkeeper Elen Valentine midway through the second half – and with no keeper on the bench, forward Amy Jenkins took the gloves for the remaining 20 minutes.
The Seasiders are at Park Avenue next Sunday (2nd April) for their final home match of the season – against Abergavenny (kick-off 2pm).
Cardiff City 3-1 The New Saints
After a long ten-year wait to win the title Cardiff City finally secured the league title with a 3-1 win over TNS.
Ffion Price with a stunning strike from distance after 31 minutes gave the Bluebirds the lead. TNS though were not here to let Cardiff just have a party and equalised just a minute later. Beth Lewis’ free kick into the box was missed by everyone and went straight in.
Captain Siobhan Walsh heading in from Seren Watkins corner after 55 minutes giving City the lead again. Walsh then added a third from the spot on 84 minutes.
After the game, Cardiff City manager Iain Derbyshire said: “It is everything we have worked towards in the last two years. I am just so proud of the players, staff, and the people behind the scenes.”
Perry Dobbins’ Photo Gallery from the match:
Adran North
Airbus UK Broughton 0-3 Llandudno
Llandudno kept their chances of second place going with a 3-0 win at Airbus. Goals from Ffion Owen, Stacy Tradewell, and Rebecca Jarvis-Evans for Llandudno.
Llandudno will need two big wins to overturn the goal difference with Connah’s Quay to take second place.
CPDY Rhyl 1879 3-3 CPDM Y Felinheli
A six-goal thriller at Belle Vue as Rhyl and Felinheli drew 3-3. Kelly Jones gave the visitors the lead but just a minute later Kayla Hargreaves levelled. Goals from Jody Cain and Yasmin Williams gave Felinheli the lead at the break.
Rebecca Bannister pulled one back after 75 minutes before a dramatic late equaliser from Rachael Nattrass.
Wrexham 2-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads
A record crowd for a domestic game in Cymru at the Racecourse as 9,511 watched Adran North Champions Wrexham face Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Wrexham started nervously and Nomads had the better of the opening minutes. Tonicha Dickens settling the nerves after six minutes when her free kick went flying into the goal. The Nomads came straight back and were soon level thanks to Ella Harvey. Rosie Hughes got the winner in the 83rd minute to round off a great season for Wrexham. Wrexham will now prepare for the play-off with Briton Ferry Llansawel on April 16th.
Adran South
Cascade YC 6-1 Caldicot Town
Cascade blow away Caldicot with five first-half goals from Molly Chapman (two), Mia Kemp, Annaliese Lewis, and Ellie Bidhendy. Lucy McDonough pulled a goal back for Caldicot before Jess Pascoe added the sixth.
Cascade will welcome new Adran South Champions Briton Ferry Llansawel to the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence on Sunday.
Swansea University 0-1 Pontardawe Town
An 83rd minute goal from captain Catryn Cook was enough to give a much-improving Pontardawe side a big win over Swansea Uni. With five wins from the last eight games, Pontardawe are ending the season strongly.
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