Saints beat Briton Ferry at Old Road Welfare Ground

Match Report

Goals: Teare (10), Lewis (35)
Yellow cards: Webb (68), Teare (73)
Substitutions: Thomas for Evans (90+3)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Michael Davies

The New Saints Women claimed a first win in this season’s Genero Adran Premier Championship Conference with a 2-1 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel at Old Road Welfare Ground.

Goals from Chantelle Teare and Lia Lewis in the first-half secured the three points for Shauna Duffy’s side, while Briton Ferry’s consolation came from Megan Kearle.

The positive result for The New Saints means the Oswestry-based team move up to 30 points in fourth in the Adran Premier table.

In the early moments of the match, Molly Havard had an effort from inside the box that went inches wide of the post.

Not long later in the 6th minute, Lucy Powell hit the ball from close-range for the hosts that was met by a fantastic save from Mackenzie Haydn-Jones to keep Rhys James’ team out.

The Saints were back on the front foot soon, when a Grace Dunkerley cross found Lexi Jones, who shot from a few yards out, but the effort went narrowly wide.

Shauna Duffy’s team broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, as a Maria Francis-Jones free-kick found Chantelle Teare in the 18-yard area, and the number nine, headed the ball into the top corner.

In the 18th minute, Jade Crofts had an attempt from inside the 18-yard-area, but once again, Haydn-Jones was there to make a good save for Saints.

Before the half-hour mark, Briton Ferry Llansawel equalised. Tija Richardson played a corner in the penalty area that found Megan Kearle, who’s initial attempt was headed at the net, and was tipped onto the crossbar by Haydn-Jones, before Kearle hit the ball in on the rebound.

Saints soon took back control of the encounter in the 35th minute, as skipper, Lia Lewis, fired the ball into Courtney Young’s bottom-right corner from inside the “d”.

Haydn-Jones made another stop for the Oswestry-based team at the other end of ground in the 38th minute, where Crofts shot from by the near post, however Saints’ number 14 stood her ground, with the ball getting moved away from danger.

Shortly before the break, Helen Evans hit a fantastic free-kick 20-yards away, that forced Young into a good save to stop a goal.

Not long into the second 45, the Oswestry-based team came close to a third once more. A Havard free-kick was parried away by Young and found Kay Baker, but the centre-half hit the ball over from a few yards out on the rebound.

Pass the hour, Teare put the ball into the net for a second time in the game following a Havard through ball, but the flag went up for offside.

In the 74th minute, Duffy’s side continued to put pressure on the Ferry net, when Francis-Jones curled an attempt at goal, with the ball just going wide.

Towards the end, Evans hit a second free-kick of the game, once again on target, this time Young palmed the ball over the bar.

In added-on time, Teare got a shot away in the penalty area that went wide, but it wasn’t to make a difference as the three points were secured.

TNS play their final match of the season on Sunday, April 13th against Wrexham at Park Hall Stadium knowing a win will see the Genero Adran Trophy finish third in the league.