Saints claim opening day win at Archers

Match Report

Goals: Jones (69), Barry (85)
Yellow cards: Ellis (82)
Substitutions: Iddenden for Davies (46), Chapman for Teare (46), Gibbs for Webb (78), Baker for Harrison (78) Homer for Evans (88)

Match report: Michael Davies
Lead image: Lewis Mitchell / FAW

The New Saints Women opened their 2026/27 Genero Adran Premier account with a 2-0 win at Cyncoed Campus against Cardiff Met.

After a frustrating first 45, Lexi Jones broke the deadlock in the 69th minute and debutant, Fiona Barry, found a second not long before the end which proved the difference between the two teams.

The three points mean a good luck in the table, as 2025 Genero Adran Trophy champions are in the top half of the table after the first round of fixtures.

In the opening minutes of the game, Lexi Jones crossed the ball into the box, before skipper, Lia Lewis, had a shot that went over from close range. This was followed in quick succession soon on by a Chantelle Teare strike that was palmed away well by Violet Bell.

Kieran Lee-Birch’s team continued to attack in the 11th minute, when former Cardiff City forward, Fiona Barry, hit a shot from distance that went narrowly wide.

Mid-way through the first-half, it was Helen Evans’ turn to shoot from distance. Unfortunately the effort went wide for the Saints once more.

Just before the half hour, Barry had a powerful shot from a few yards out that went off the inner side of the crossbar and cleared away, as the Oswestry based team kept pushing for the opener.

In the 31st minute, it was Hannah Snape’s go to try her luck with a long-range attempt that tested Bell, as the Archers’ keeper was forced to tip the ball over the bar.

Just before the break, Evans hit a shot from 20-yards out that Bell safely gathered.

Saints continued to attack the Met net at the start of the second-half, as Gibraltar international, Caitlin Chapman, crossed a ball in that found Jones into the box, who shot from a few yards out, but Bell was able to make the stop once more in the game.

In the 51st minute, Abbie Iddenden had her first competitive shot in a TNS shirt, when the forward powered the ball towards goal, with Bell able to make another save for the Students.

Three minutes on, Barry continued to test Bell, as the 20-year-old hit a clean effort from just outside the box that the Met keeper parried away.

Past the hour, Iddenden had the best chance of the game as the striker shot over the crossbar.

Snape had a good powerful effort in the 68th minute, as a 35-yard attempt from from the full-back was caught by Bell.

The deadlock was broken moments on thanks to a Barry cross that fell to Jones 8-yards out, and the winger fired the ball home.

In the 82nd minute, Barry had a great shot from range that went was palmed over well by Bell.

Barry got her goal in the 85th minute, when Iddenden laid the ball off to forward, and the number 19 hit the top corner of the net from the edge of the box, which concluded that the three points were heading back up to Park Hall Stadium

TNS play their first home match of the campaign next week against Barry Town United on Sunday, Sunday, September 13th.