Elliott shootout hero as Saints Women edge past Briton Ferry

Match Report

Goals: Buckland (20), Havard (63),
Yellow cards: Webb (30), Baker (36), Lewis (77), Havard (85)
Substitutions: Chapman for Baker (46), Thomas for Chapman (58)

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

The New Saints Women advanced to the semi-finals of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup, following a 4-2 win on penalties over Briton Ferry Llansawel, after the game finished 2-2 in normal time.

It was The New Saints that took the lead on two occasions thanks to goals from Olivia Buckland and Molly Havard, but Briton Ferry struck back twice, as Tija Richardson and Jade Crofts found the back of the net.

Becca Elliott then saved two penalties in the shootout to the The Saints through.

The New Saints took the lead midway through the first-half, when a Lexi Jones through ball found Olivia Buckland in the box, and the 17-year-old slotted a shot past Courtney Young’s bottom-right.

On the half-hour mark, Alison Witts had a free-kick from the edge of the box, but it didn’t trouble Becca Elliott, as the attempt powered wide.

Not too long later, Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones passed a ball across the 18-yard-area that found Jones, who shot from a few yards away, however the effort went off target.

Towards the end of the half, Briton Ferry Llansawel’s number 11, Maia Owen hit a strike from 20-yards out that was met by a fine Elliott save.

Molly Havard a strike for The Saints, with the shot stopped by Young, as Shauna Duffy’s side entered half-time a goal up.

A few minutes into the second-half, Briton Ferry whipped a cross into the six-yard area that found Witts, who headed wide.

Ferry found an equaliser in the 62nd minute, as a cross eventually fell to Tija Richardson, and the number 12 headed the ball in from close-range.

Moments after the restart, Saints took the lead once more. New signing, Kelsey Thomas hit a ball across goal, and a chance fell to Havard, who converted from point-blank range.

In the 68th minute, Owen went up the other end of the pitch for Rhys James’ team, and shot from outside the box, with Elliott able to make a stop.

With not long to go in the encounter, Ferry substitute, Megan Kearle shot a few yards out, but was cleared off the line brilliantly by Sophie Phillips.

In the 88th minute, the hosts equalised for a second time. Jade Crofts ran through on goal, got around Elliott, and netted into an empty goal.

The tie then went to a shootout that saw Elliott make two saves to send TNS through.

Duffy’s team are next in action against Cardiff Met in the final match of the first phase in the Genero Adran Premier at Park Hall Stadium on Sunday, February 23rd.