The New Saints Women up to second following a 5-0 win against Cardiff Met

Match Report

Goals: Teare (7), Francis-Jones (12, 78), H. Evans (42), Baker (72),
Yellow cards: Webb (62)
Substitutions: Thomas for Havard (67), Reid for Jones (67), Edge for Webb (72), Buckland for Teare (73)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: F28.Online

It was a winning end to phase one for The New Saints, as they defeated Cardiff Met University 5-0 at Park Hall Stadium.

Leading 3-0 at the break, Shauna Duffy’s side had a firm grip on the game, and they added another two goals in the second 45 to make it a convincing victory.

Chantelle Teare, Maria Francis-Jones, Helen Evans and Kay Baker were all on target, as The Saints made a welcome return to winning ways in the Genero Adran Premier.

The New Saints made the ideal start at Park Hall, as they took the lead with just seven minutes on the clock.

Receiving the ball from Maria Francis-Jones, Chantelle Teare took aim from just outside the penalty area, and her effort looped over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Five minutes later, things got ever better for Shauna Duffy’s side when a left-sided free-kick from Francis-Jones evaded everyone in the box and beat Charlotte Smith. 

Molly Havard, Lexi Jones and Lia Lewis all had chances to increase the advantage as the half wore on, but on all three occasions, neither player was able to hit the target.

Lewis went close again with 27 minutes gone, but after working the goalkeeper with her initial effort, The Saints’ captain failed to convert the rebound.

In the 36th minute, the Archers could’ve pulled a goal back when India Shanahan beat the offside trap, but debutant goalkeeper, Megan Bowen, pulled off a smart double save to mop up the danger.

Three minutes before the break, the Genero Adran Trophy winners did eventually score their third of the night to take a firm grip on the game.

After Molly Havard’s free-kick was parried by the goalkeeper, Helen Evans followed in smartly, turning the ball home from close-range to score her fourth goal of the season.

Duffy side could’ve scored again immediately after the restart, but Teare failed to get power on her close-range header, meaning it was easy for the goalkeeper to gather.

With 58 minutes gone, Havard almost converted with an audacious long-range chipped effort, but the ball bounced back out off the far post before being cleared by the visiting defence.

The game still had more goals in it though, and 18 minutes from time, Kay Baker poked home Francis-Jones’ corner from the right to score her first in a TNS shirt.

After some lovely link-up play, between substitute, Olivia Buckland, and Francis-Jones, the latter scored her second of the night six minute later, beating Smith from just inside the penalty area.

It was the ideal end to phase one for The New Saints, who moved to within four points of league leaders Cardiff City as a result.

The Saints will be back in action next Sunday (March 2nd), but with today’s Genero Adran Premier fixture scheduled decimated by the weather, their opponents are still to be confirmed.