Chapman on target but Saints Women beaten at The Renewable Centre Stadium

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/1972272865941811589

Goals: Chapman (20)
Substitutions: Baker for Crees (60), Paraiso for Davies (74), Buckland for Gibbs (74), Edge for Lewis (87)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

It proved to be a difficult afternoon for The New Saints at The Renewable Centre Stadium, as they were beaten 3-1 by Briton Ferry Llansawel.

After falling behind in the 12th minute, Jodie Williams’ side did well to battle back and equalise through Caitlin Chapman eight minutes later.

Goals either side of half-time from Maia Owen and Grace Evans proved enough to condemn the Saints to a second away defeat of the season, however, halting their winning momentum.

The opening goal of the game arrived with 12 minutes on the clock, and it was the home side who made the breakthrough.

Rising highest inside the crowded penalty area to meet Megan Kearle’s corner, Ashley Griffiths sent a powerful header past Becca Elliott and into the back of the net to make the score 1-0.

In the 19th minute, Jodie Williams’ side had a great chance to hit back quickly when a cross from Lexie Harrison reached Zara Gibbs on the edge of the penalty area.

Trying her luck at the first time of asking, the ball fell narrowly wide of the left post, however, and the hosts survived the danger.

Just moments later though, the Saints did score their equaliser, with Caitlin Chapman slotting the ball beneath the goalkeeper from close-range after some good vision from Charlotte Crees.

With the match continuing in its end-to-end fashion, Briton Ferry retook the lead with 29 minutes on the clock.

Another corner, this time from the opposite side, caused problems for the TNS defence, and Maia Owen took full advantage, hooking the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

The Saints went into the half-time break 2-1 down, but came incredibly close to equalising in stoppage time when a Maria Francis-Jones free-kick from the right went behind off the crossbar.

Saints’ goalkeeper Elliott was kept busy at the start of the second-half, first denying Jade Crofts from just inside the penalty area, before an even better stop low down to her right to prevent Brooke Llewellyn from finding the bottom corner.

In the 69th minute, things went from bad to worse for the visitors, when Briton Ferry substitute Grace Evans added her side’s third.

It was a superb over-the-top ball from Jade Crofts to send the former Cardiff City defender on her way, and she made no mistake in sending a powerful effort past Elliott and into the far corner.

The TNS shotstopper came to her side’s rescue again in the 76th minute, mopping up the danger following a short backpass from debutant Safia Paraiso to prevent the hosts from sealing the victory.

Eight minutes from time Chantelle Teare thought she’d pulled a goal back when she turned the ball home following a free-kick from the right, but the whistle had already gone for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Despite pushing for a way back into the game, it wasn’t forthcoming in the little time that remained, and the Saints fell to a 3-1 defeat on the road.

Jodie Williams’ side are back in home action next Sunday (October 4th), welcoming newly-promoted Pontypridd United to Park Hall. Kick-off is scheduled for 2pm.