Saints Women claim three points at Cyncoed

Match Report

Goals: Buckland (41), H.Evans (68)
Substitutions: Ridge for Kendrick-Jones (60), Phillips for Edge (76)

Match report by Michael Davies

The New Saints Women claimed a 2-1 win at Cyncoed Campus against Cardiff Met to remain second in the Genero Adran Premier table.

Strikes from Olivia Buckland and Helen Evans was what ended up separating the sides come the final whistle in South Wales, while the visitor’s got a consolation fairly late on through Faith Mulenga.

That is now a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions for Shauna Duffy’s side.

It was The New Saints Women that almost took the lead in the first couple of minutes. Olivia Buckland played a through ball to Poppy Kendrick- Jones, who had a shot in the box that Charlotte Smith saved.

Not long later, Lia Lewis had a long-distance effort that went off target.

In the 23rd minute, Helen Evans made a good run into the 18-yard-area and shot, but Smith was there to make the stop.

Before the half-hour, Shauna Duffy’s team continued to press, as Kendrick-Jones hit a ball from 25-yards out that Smith caught.

In the 37th minute, Chantelle Teare got an attempt away to the keeper’s bottom-left that was palmed away.

Shortly after, Cardiff Met went up the other end of the pitch and got an effort away that led to a Ruby Colleton shot that was blocked by Helen Evans.

Before the break, The Saints took the lead. A met back pass led to a Buckland interception before the 17-year-old slotted the ball into the net.

Not long into the second 45, Colleton hit an effort for the Archers inside the penalty that went wide of the post.

Seconds later, Teare crossed in a ball that found Buckland, who hit the opportunity over the crossbar.

A few moments before the hour, Colleton shot once more at the other end for the hosts, this time the chance was caught by Becca Elliott.

There was almost a moment of brilliance in the 63rd minute, where a Helen Evans cross found Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones, and the number two made a great run, before a shot in the box fired wide.

Saints did a get a second in the 68th minute. A fantastic Helen Evans 35-yard free-kick flew into the top of the net to doubled the lead.

Faith Mulenga got a goal back for Chris Baker’s team with 15 minutes to go, with a deflected shot from the number seven ended up going over Elliott and into the top corner of the net.

Duffy’s side held on for the remainder of the game to take three points back up north.

TNS are next in action against Cardiff City at Park Hall Stadium in the Genero Adran Trophy quarter-finals on Sunday, December 8.