The New Saints Women continued their pre-season in positive fashion with a 2-0 win against Stoke City U21s at Park Hall Stadium. 

Trialist C and Poppy Kendrick-Jones scored in either half for The New Saints to win the game.

Shauna Duffy’s team started off the game brightly early on, as Chantelle Teare crossed the ball into Trialist C, who netted from point-blank range.

In the 18th minute, Lia Lewis had an opportunity from just outside the box that went narrowly wide.

Before the half-hour mark, The Saints continued to push for a second, as Maria Francis-Jones powered in a ball from 20-yards out that was cleared away by the Potters’ defence.

Moments on, Trialist C went close, with a ball whipped in by Saints from outside the penalty area that ended up being deflected on the post and cleared away.

In the 56th minute, Trialist C played a ball to Tilly Edge, who had a hit on the edge of the box, with the effort going off the crossbar and away.

Not long before the hour, TNS crossed a ball into the penalty area that found Trialist A, but the ball was headed over from close range.

Stoke had a chance of their own in the 65th minute, as their number 22 headed wide, following a corner being whipped into the six-yard area.

The visitors were on the attack again just over ten minutes on, with a Rylie Kelb free-kick whipped in from 25-yards out that went all the way through and out for a goal kick.

TNS came close in the 81st minute, where Trialist C ran through on goal and shot from a few yards away, however was denied by a good Emma Whitehouse save.

Just before the end, Duffy’s team did get a second, as Poppy Kendrick-Jones scored from outside the box past Whitehouse.

It was the last of the action, which meant a good 2-0 victory secured for the Oswestry-based team.

TNS’ next pre-season match is against Forest Green Rovers at Hartpury University on Sunday, August 18th.

Starting line-up: Becca Elliott; Trialist A; Mia Evans, Sophie Phillips, Maria Francis-Jones, Trialist B, Lia Lewis, Grace Dunkerley, Poppy Kendrick-Jones, Chantelle Teare, Trialist C