Three points and three goals as The New Saints Women start off the Adran Premier season victorious in Pontypridd

Match Report

Goals: Staley (30), Redding (78), Chapman (89)
Substitutions: Griffiths for Staley (61), Shirley for Ridge (79), Samson for Chapman (90+2), Teare for Evans (90+2)

Match report by Michael Davies

The New Saints Women collected three points at USW Sport Park with a 3-1 victory to kick-off the Genero Adran Premier season in fine fashion.

Dani Staley, Izzy Redding found the back of the net, before Carys Bufton pulled one back for Pontypridd United, but The New Saints secured victory late on through Caitlin Chapman.

It is the first time that The Saints have secured an opening matchday win in Genero Adran Premier history.

After a quiet start, The New Saints came close to taking the lead in the 14th minute, where a Caitlin Chapman cross found Emily Ridge in the six-yard area, and the number 35 just headed wide of the target.

Another chance arrived soon later, a Pontypridd mishap led to a Chapman opportunity from close range, but the the Northern Irish player just missed the net.

The Oswestry side were on the attack once more in the 20th minute through a Dani Staley corner that found Helen Evans, who headed wide in the box.

On the half-hour mark, Greg Draper’s team took the lead. Chapman put in a cross which reached Adran Premier debutant, Ella Hartley, and the number 10 struck first time, which was saved by Eleanor Brook, however, Staley was there on the follow up to net from point-blank range.

At the start of the second-half, Hartley had a shot from just outside the 18-yard area, but Brook managed to make the stop.

Saints came close to a second before the hour when Staley whipped in a ball to Ridge inside the penalty area, and the striker hit a powerful effort that Brook brilliantly saved.

With just under twenty minutes to go, the Dragons had their first shot on target through substitute, Sophie Topper, who powerfully hit it at Mackenzie Hadyn-Jones, and The Saints keeper made the catch.

Draper’s side doubled their advantage in the 78th minute. A chapman corner found Izzy Redding in the box, where the centre-half headed the ball past Brook’s bottom-right and into the net.

James Fishlock’s Dragons did get a goal back late on in the 87th minute through a Carys Bufton long-range attempt that went over Hadyn-Jones and into the net.

However, the two goal lead was restored moments on after a Brook pass that found the feet of Chapman, and the winger nestled the ball into the goal from a few yards out, which proved enough to secure the three points.

TNS are on the road again next week, where an away trip to Cardiff Met awaits (September 24).