Eight-goal thriller at Cyncoed Campus as The New Saints Women pick up a point

Match Report

Goals: Hartley (18, 47), Chapman (72, 86)

Match report by Michael Davies

The New Saints Women claimed a thrilling point at Cyncoed Campus in a 4-4 draw against Cardiff Met.

After going into the break 3-1 down, The New Saints came back to finish the match all-square come the final whistle.

The result sees The Saints level on four points at the top of the Genero Adran Premier with four other sides.

In the first few seconds of the game, Caitlin Chapman managed to get a shot away in the box that was stopped by Alysha Hawkings.

The Archers went up the the other end of the pitch to score soon after in the the 4th minute, where an Emily Bayliss pass found Amy Long, and the number seven netted from close range.

After multiple consecutive shots on target that were saved by Hawkings in the 18th minute, The New Saints finally found an equaliser inside the penalty box through Ella Hartley, which was the 25-year-old’s first competitive Saints goal.

However, The Students were the ones that retook the lead not too long before half-time when Norwegian, Ingrid Aadlaand struck from 25-yards out over Mackenzie Hadyn-Jones and into the net.

On the stroke of the break, Met got a third. Aadland put a cross into Ellie Preece, who converted from a few yards out.

At the start of the second 45, The Saints pulled one back through a Hartley shot from outside the 18-yard area that went into the keepers bottom-left corner.

TNS got a leveller in the 72nd minute. Beth Lewis played a great over-the-top ball to Chapman, who ran into the box and slotted it past Hawkings.

Greg Draper’s side were come to taken the lead moments on. A ball was played in that found Teare, who shot over the crossbar close out.

The home team got back the lead in the 80th minute. Adlaand got the ball over Hadyn-Jones, and into the net.

TNS soon made it 4-4 through a Forkings mistake that fell straight to Chapman, who struck it into the keepers’ bottom-left.

In stoppage time, Erin Murray almost scored for Daniel Delahey’s team as the skipper hit the post from six-yards out.

Saints almost got the winner in the dying moments as a cross into the box found Izzy Redding, who shot at goal, but was denied by a fine Forkings save.

Draper’s team’s next match is an away trip across the capital to face Cardiff City at Leckwith Stadium (October 1).

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