Saints Women secure top four following victory over Seasiders

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/2015459746065564090?s=20

Goals: Gibbs (45+3), Jones (64)
Substitutions: Evans for Gibbs (66), Webb for Dunkerley (66), Harrison for Richardson (67), Buckland for L.Jones (76), Edge for Davies (81)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Craig Thomas / FAW

It was a good Sunday afternoon for The New Saints Women, as Kieran Lee-Birch’s team secured the final place in the Genero Adran Premier Championship Conference with a game to spare following a 2-0 over victory Aberystwyth Town at Park Hall Stadium.

Goals from Zara Gibbs and Lexi Jones secured the three points in a match that was dominated by The New Saints throughout.

In the Adran Premier table, The Saints move up to 20 points in fourth.

The win over Aberystwyth is a first for Lee-Birch’s first victory as Saints’ Manager.

The New Saints Women started off brightly, as in the 14th minute, Grace Dunkerley had a good effort in the box that was palmed away well by goalkeeper, Sophie Steele.

Not long later, Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones, put in an inviting cross that found Caitlin Chapman at the back post, who had a header that deflected wide.

In the 19th minute, Dunkerley whipped in a corner that landed at the feet of Kay Baker, and the number six had a shot from inside the box that was caught by Steele.

Past the half hour mark, Chapman tried luck with an effort from a few yards out that was palmed away from Steele again.

The New Saints continued to threaten in the 35th minute, a Francis-Jones put in a cross that found Chantelle Teare, who headed over the crossbar from inside the six-yard area.

It continued to be all Kieran Lee-Birch’s team soon on, as Gibraltar international, Chapman, made a good run into the penalty area with the ball, but fired wide.

The New Saints took the the lead in the third minute of added-on-time, as shots at the net ended up at the feet of Zara Gibbs, and the number three scored past Steele’s bottom-left from inside the box.

At the start of the second 45, the hosts continued where they left off, as a Francis-Jones corner found Baker in the box, where the centre-half hit a shot over the crossbar from a few yards out.

In the 52nd minute, Chapman threaded a through ball to Teare, who did all the hard work by getting past the defender and into the box, however the forward failed to hit the target from close-distance.

Past the hour, Lexi Jones had an effort from outside the box that was stopped by Steele.

The Saints did double their lead in the 64th minute, when Lexi jones smashed the ball into the top of the net on the rebound from close distance.

It was a quiet end to the match as Saints secured top four in the Adran Premier.

TNS’ next fixture is on Sunday, February 1st, when it is a trip to bottom of the table, Pontypridd Untied, to end Phase One of the Adran Premier.

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/2015501877341782264?s=20