Points shared at Old Road following late Ferry equaliser

Match Report

Goals: Jones (70, 81)
Yellow cards: Chapman (90+5)
Substitutions: Buckland for Havard (46), Chapman for Edge (59), Manders for Evans (90+2)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Lewis Jennings / FAW

The New Saints Women were held to a 2-2 draw against Briton Ferry Llansawel at Old Road Welfare Ground in the Genero Adran Premier.

Laura-May Walkley gave the home side a 1-0 lead on the verge of half-time from a penalty, before a Lexi Jones brace turned the game around in the second 45. There was to be late drama, as Briton Ferry substitute, Megan Kearle, hit an equaliser deep into added-on-time.

The result still means The New Saints have ended Ferry’s 27-league home win streak.

Meanwhile, Saints stay third in the Adran Premier table, one point behind the 2023/24 Adran South champions.

Early on in the encounter, Sophie Phillips whipped in a terrific free-kick that found Chantelle Teare at the back post, who had a shot on target that was saved by Courtney Young.

In the 14th minute, Lucy Powell crossed in a ball for the hosts that found Maia Owen in the box, where the number 11 headed the attempt over the crossbar from close-range.

Twenty minutes on, Jess Denscombe crossed a ball into Alison Witts, and the forward headed wide.

Briton Ferry had another attack shortly after, as Laura-May Walkley played a through ball to Witts, who got a touch, but Becca Elliott collected the ball.

In the 44th minute, Wales under-17 international, Lexi Jones, had an attempt from outside the 18-yard area for The New Saints, however Young saved the effort.

On the stroke of half-time, Walkley got brought down in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Powell then stepped up for the penalty moments on, and netted into Elliott’s top-left to send Rhys James’ side ahead.

At the start of the second 45, The Saints were on the front-foot. Grace Dunkerley managed to get a great ball into Helen Evans, who fired narrowly wide from a few yards out.

On the stroke of the hour mark, Walkley was sent off for a second booking offence due to a tackle on substitute, Olivia Buckland.

Moments on, Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones hit a free-kick on the edge of the box that Young managed to stop.

The Saints took advantage of an extra player in the 70th minute, as Teare played a ball in that found Jones, who chipped Young and scored from a few yards out.

Shauna Duffy’s team took a 2-1 lead shortly after, with a Jones effort from 25-yards ending up all the way into the net.

It was almost 3-1 straight after the restart when Teare slotted an through ball to Northern Ireland U19 international, Caitlin Chapman, who shot inches wide.

In the 85th minute, the Oswestry-based team continued to push for another, with an Evans long-distance effort powering toward the net, which Young just about stopped.

Ferry found an equaliser deep into stoppage time, when substitute, Megan Kearle received an over-the-top ball from Denscombe, ran through on goal, and slotted the ball past Elliott.

Duffy’s team are next in action against Wrexham this coming Wednesday (February 5) at The Rock in the Adran Premier.