Late goal gets Saints spot in Genero Adran Premier Championship Conference

Match Report

Goals: Platt (22), Evans (31), Redding (72), Ridge (88).
Substitutions: Teare for Staley (66), Gresham for Evans (90+4).

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints Women ended phase one with a remarkable 4-0 victory over Abergavenny to get a place in the Genero Adran Premier Championship Conference for the second phase.

Goals for The New Saints came from Lucie Platt and Helen Evans in the first-half, Izzy Redding netted in 72nd before Emily Ridge got a crucial fourth just minutes prior to the final whistle.

The result at the end of phase one puts The Saints into fourth above Pontypridd United on goals scored and a place secured in the Adran Premier Championship Conference.

At the start of the match, Lucie Platt played a through ball to Caitlin Chapman, who hit an effort just wide from the edge of the box.

In the 11th minute, an over-the-top ball from Izzy Redding found Emily Ridge and The New Saints Women’s top scorer had a chance one-on-one, but hit the ball straight at keeper, Charlotte Hastings.

Ridge had another chance soon after. Chapman put in a cross to the number 35, however the ball was hit wide of the net.

The New Saints took the lead in the 22nd minute. A free-kick led to a scramble in the box that found Platt and the number ten netted from point-blank range.

Before the half hour, Helen Evans played a through ball to Dani Staley, where the the no.17 hit wide of the post.

The second came in the 31st minute, Chapman crossed in a ball that Hastings failed to get and Evans took advantage to score.

In stoppage time, Beth Lewis crossed a ball into Evans, who had a header straight at Hastings.

The Saints did not bother the Pennies net for much of the second-half until the 71st minute, where Lia Lewis struck a shot from outside the box which Hastings gathered.

Greg Draper’s team got a third in the following minute. Chapman crossed a corner ball to Redding, who headed it into the net to keep the top four dream alive.

All the drama came in the 88th minute, as Evans passed the ball to Ridge and the number 35 scored off the post from the edge of the penalty area and into the goal. It was the ultimate strike that secured TNS a place in the Championship Conference for the second phase over Pontypridd United on goals scored.

TNS are next in action away at Cardiff City in the Genero Adran Trophy semi-finals on Sunday, February 12th.