A narrow defeat for The New Saints Women at the Cardiff City Stadium

Match Report

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: John Smith / FAW

Yellow cards: Tia Lockley (28)
Substitutions: Chapman for Havard (58), Kendrick-Jones for Lockley (74), Ridge for Jones (88)

The New Saints Women suffered a narrow first loss of the season in a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium in the Genero Adran Premier.

Lisa Owen and Laura Curnock both scored in the second-half for the Bluebirds to claim the three points.

It was an end-to-end affair, with The New Saints fairly unlucky not to get anything from the game.

Cardiff City almost scored the opener early on in the seventh minute. A misplaced passed by goalkeeper, Becca Elliott, went to Eliza Collie, who had a shot at an open goal from outside the box, but missed the target.

In the 11th minute, The New Saints had their own effort goal from a 25-yard free-kick by Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones, who was on target, however Ceryn Chamberlain was there to make the save.

The Bluebirds were back attacking not long later. A through ball found Ffion Price, and the number three shot from close range, only to be denied by a fine Elliott save.

In the 27th minute, striker, Molly Havard, had an effort from inside the box that unfortunately couldn’t find the target, as both sides kept pushing for an opener.

Past the half hour mark, Fiona Barry made a run down the left-side of the pitch past three players into box, and passed to Cayman Islands international, Collie, who hit the ball from close distance, but wide.

The Saints were back up the pitch with a few minutes to go before the break, when Wales under-17 international, Lexi Jones, had a decent effort from distance, which dragged away from the net. 

Just before the break, Saints had another attempt through Havard inside the box that went off target, with the game goalless at half-time.

It was the hosts that did break the deadlock five minutes in the second-half, as Lisa Owen ran through The Saints defence, into the box, past Elliott’s bottom-right, and into the net.

Shauna Duffy’s team went seeking an equaliser soon on, when Jones pulled an effort wide from 25-yards out.

In the 72nd minute, City went on the front foot, with Lily Billingham dinking the ball across the box to Collie, who had a header from close distance that was stopped by Elliott. 

Late on, substitute, Laura Curnock, scored from outside the box, and into the top of the goal that secured the three points for the defending champions.

Duffy’s side are back at Park Hall Stadium next Sunday (October 6th), as Briton Ferry Llansawel are the visitors in the fourth round of Genero Adran Premier fixtures.