Saints Women run Cardiff City close as Bluebirds clinch Genero Adran Premier title

Match Report

Goals: B.Lewis (32)
Yellow cards: Izzy Redding (66)
Substitutions: Ashworth for B.Lewis (84), Marshall for Williams (89)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Perry Dobbins

The New Saints Women fell to a 3-1 defeat against Cardiff City at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium as the Bluebirds clinched the Genero Adran Premier title.

Ffion Price gave the home side the lead, before Beth Lewis found a leveller moments on. Iain Darbyshire’s side clinched victory in the second-half thanks to a Siobhan Walsh brace.

The result confirms The Saints will finish the Adran Premier Championship Conference in fourth place.

Cardiff City had the first shot in the 17th minute when the Bluebirds attack hit the ball from close range, with the danger cleared off the line by Lucie Platt.

Moments later, Ffion Price had a free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard area that was matched by a great Sarah Parkes save to keep the game goalless.

In the 25th minute, Platt had an effort from 25-yards out which Ceryn Chamberlain managed to palm away.

City took the lead on the half hour mark, as Ffion Price got an effort away from outside the box that went over Parkes and into the net.

Greg Draper’s team equalised two minutes on. Beth Lewis had a 25-yard free-kick that directly went into the back of the net.

City were back on the front foot in the 35th minute. Price whipped a corner in that found Siobhan Walsh, but the Bluebirds skipper headed wide.

At the start of the second 45, Seren Watkins had a shot from distance for the home team that powered off target with the home side knocking on the door.

The league leaders retook the lead in the 55th minute. Watkins whipped in a corner that found the unmarked Siobhan Walsh, and the Cardiff captain headed the ball into the net.

In the 69th minute, Eliza Collie went one-on-one with Parkes and looked set to score, but the TNS keeper made a fantastic save to deny the forward.

The Bluebirds got a third in the 83rd minute. Lily Billingham was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Siobhan Walsh then stepped up and scored into Parkes’ bottom-left corner.

Towards the end of the match, Helen Evans brought down Billingham and the referee pointed to the spot again. This time Siobhan Walsh hit the spot-kick wide from 12-yards out.

The encounter ended 3-1 soon after as the Bluebirds were crowned the 22/23 Adran Premier champions.

TNS are next in action against Swansea City Ladies on Sunday, April 2nd at Park Hall Stadium in the final home game of the season.