Saints Women suffer narrow defeat at The Rock

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/1887214069490348275

Substitutions: Chapman for Havard (46), Buckland for Jones (90+4)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: F28.Online

The New Saints Women suffered a tight 1-0 defeat against Wrexham at The Rock in the Genero Adran Premier.

Lili Jones scored the only goal of the match right towards the end, which ended up separating the two sides.

The result keeps The New Saints third in the Adran Premier table on 24 points with one fixture left to play in the first phase.

In the opening exchanges of the game, The New Saints Women thought they scored, as Chantelle Teare played a through ball to Lexi Jones, who netted from close-range, but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

Shauna Duffy’s team had another effort in the 10th minute, when Lexi Jones passed a ball to Molly Havard just inside the box, however,  Liz Craven was there to make the the stop.

Not long later, Olivia Fuller hit the first shot on target for the hosts, with Becca Elliott managing to gather with ease.

Just past the half-hour, Lili Jones took a free-kick from just outside the box for the Red Dragons that was palmed away by Elliott, before Ava Suckley dragged the rebound wide from a couple yards away.

Moments into the second 45, substitute, Caitlin Chapman, crossed in a great ball that almost found Lexi Jones, who just failed to connect inside the box.

The New Saints continued to attack in the 51st minute. Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones, whipped in a cross, which Teare managed to gather and hit the ball at the net, but Craven was there to stop the effort to her bottom-left.

Past the hour, Helen Evans had a looping effort at goal from just inside the 18-yard area, which Craven just about dealt with as the match remained goalless.

In the 65th minute, Abbie Iddenden found a goal with a long-distance attempt for Wrexham, however the flag went up for offside.

The Saints came inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 68th minute, with a Sophie Phillips pass ending up at the feet at Jones, who shot first time, and Craven dived down to make good stop for the hosts.

Lexi Jones had another attempt not long later, this time from outside of the penalty area, but Craven was there to make the save once again.

The Oswestry based-team were back on defensive duties in the 82nd minute, as Steve Dale’s team had a couple of attempts at goal, but were denied on the line twice by TNS skipper, Lia Lewis.

Wrexham took the lead in the 87th minute, when Lili Jones curled a strike from the edge of the box, and into the top corner of the net.

Deep into added-on-time, Duffy’s team went up the other end of the pitch for one last attack. Phillips whipped in a free-kick that found Evans, who headed wide from a few yards away, as Wrexham held on to claim the three points.

TNS are next in action this Sunday (February 9) at Latham Park against Swansea City in the Genero Adran Trophy final.