Saints Women edge past Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue

Match Report

Goals: Lewis (83) [P]
Yellow cards: Dunkerley (79), Teare (88)
Substitutions: Chapman for Kendrick-Jones (46), Ridge for Jones (75)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Sam Eaden / FAW

The New Saints Women claimed a tight 1-0 win over Aberystwyth Town in the Genero Adran Premier evening kick-off at Park Avenue.

A Lia Lewis second-half penalty was all that separated the sides in West Wales.

The margin of victory could have been larger in The New Saints’ favour, but it was just the spot-kick that ended up being the difference.

Sunday’s win sees The Saints move back to second in the Adran Premier table, two points behind league leaders, Cardiff City.

Aberystwyth Town were the team that started on the front foot in the fourth minute, as lily Moralee-Hughes had an effort from just outside the box that hit the side netting.

Later on in the half, Wales under-17 international, Lexi Jones, made a good run into the box for The New Saints and shot, but the ball was blocked from close-range by Libby Isaac.

The Seasiders were back on the front foot in the 25th minute, where Shauna Chambers had a 25-yard attempt that dragged wide.

Shauna Duffy’s team had their own 25-yard effort moments on. Poppy Kendrick-Jones noticed that former Swansea City goalkeeper, Chelsea Herbert, was off her line, but the shot came to no avail, as the ball fell into the hands of the keeper.

Before the half-hour, the Oswestry-based team continued to press, with another Kendrick-Jones effort deflecting wide.

Seconds on, the resulting corner from Maria Francis-Jones found Tiggy Webb in the box, who headed wide.

Another Saints shot came in the 32nd minute through a Lia Lewis attempt from inside the “D”, but it was stopped by Herbert.

Not long on, a clever through ball from Kendrick-Jones found Jones, and the number 11 got an effort away from a few yards away, however it went wide.

Yet another opportunity came Saints’s way in first-half stoppage time, Kendrick-Jones shot inside the 18-yard area, and the ball fell straight into the gloves of Herbert, as the game was goalless at the break.

At the start of the second 45, Lewis had a deflected effort from a few yards out that almost crept in, but Herbert managed to get down to her bottom-right to make the save.

Duffy’s team kept knocking, as in the 53rd minute, substitute, Caitlin Chapman, played a through ball to Chantelle Teare, who hit the crossbar inside the penalty area.

Seconds on, Helen Evans shot from just outside the box, with the attempt fired just over the net.

A minute on in the 54th, Jones got a decent effort away for TNS, but it was matched by a fine Herbert save.

The latest chance came just before the hour, where Wales under-19 international, Grace Dunkerley, hit a shot narrowly inches in the six-yard area, and Moralee-Hughes deflected the opportunity away.

A breakthrough was found in the 83rd minute, as a Josie Pugh handball led to a Lewis penalty that the skipper converted past Herbert’s bottom-right.

A great tackle was made by Evans late on, with the 24-year-old tackling Lleucu Mathias in the box to deny a shot.

It was the last of the action, as a crucial three points was claimed to head back to Oswestry with.

TNS take a break from league action next week, as Duffy’s side travel to Caldicot Town in the round of 16 in the Genero Adran Trophy.