Six of the best as Saints Women reach Welsh Cup quarter-finals

Match Report

Goals: Francis-Jones (54), Dunkerley (58), Buckland (75), Lewis (81), Jones (86), Evans (89)
Substitutions: Jones for Kendrick-Jones (46), Buckland for Teare (72), M.Evans for Edge (77), Baker for Breed (77)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Sam Eaden/FAW

The New Saints Women moved onto the quarter-finals of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup thanks to a 6-0 win away at Llandudno Ladies.

All the goals came in the second 45 through Maria Francis-Jones, Grace Dunkerley, Olivia Buckland, Lia Lewis, Lexi Jones, and Helen Evans.

Shauna Duffy’s side dominated throughout the match and potentially could have had more goals.

The New Saints came close early on in the encounter, as Caitlin Chapman whipped in a cross that found Poppy Kendrick-Jones, who headed an effort over the crossbar.

Kendrick Jones had another effort in the 13th minute, where a shot from inside the box went wide.

Shauna Duffy’s team weren’t far away again in the 19th minute. A Maria Francis-Jones cross found Helen Evans, and the 24-year-old had a header that drifted off target.

Soon after, the Oswestry-based team continued to have a go at the Llandudno net. Kendrick-Jones hit an initial effort that was saved by Catherine Jones, with a follow-up attempt by Helen Evans that was caught by the Seasiders goalkeeper.

The Saints came so near to a goal before the half-hour mark. Francis-Jones whipped in a corner that found Tiggy Webb at the back post, but the centre-half shot over the net.

In the 36th minute, it was more of the same, as efforts by Chapman and Chantelle Teare were blocked by the Llandudno defence.

The deadlock was broken not too long into the second-half, with a Francis-Jones corner going straight into the net.

Teare came close to a TNS second in the 56th minute, where the forward shot in the box following a set-piece, however the effort was drilled over.

A second was found before the hour, as a Grace Dunkerley shot was fired past Catherine Jones’ bottom-left corner from 20-yards out.

More action came past the hour, with a Francis-Jones cross headed over by Teare inside the box.

In the 67th minute, Saints’ number nine tried her luck at goal once more, as a shot from outside the penalty area was stopped by Catherine Jones.

A third arrived for TNS not long later, substitute, Olivia Buckland, shot from the 18 yard-line, and scored under the arms of Catherine Jones.

The fourth came in the 81st minute, where a Dunkerley cross into the box found captain, Lia Lewis, who flicked the ball onto the crossbar and into the net.

Number five came shortly on, as a fumble from Catherine Jones led to a Lexi Jones goal from close distance.

Before the end, TNS got a sixth. The ball fell to Helen Evans, who smashed the opportunity into the net inside the six-yard area.

Duffy’s team are back to Genero Adran Premier action next Sunday (November 24), as Wrexham visit Park Hall Stadium.