Late heroics guide Saints Women to first Adran Trophy final

Match Report

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Brian Jones

Goals: Ridge (82), Francis-Jones (87), Teare (90+2)
Substitutions: Edge for Baker (71), Ridge for Buckland (71), Manders for Jones (80)

The New Saints Women made a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 against Briton Ferry Llansawel and reach a first Genero Adran Trophy final at Park Hall Stadium.

Goals from Lucy Powell and Maia Owen gave the visitors a two-goal lead at the break, before strikes from Emily Ridge, Maria Francis-Jones, and Chantelle Teare turned the game on it’s head late on in the second-half.

The final of the competition will be played on Sunday, February 9th against Swansea City at Latham Park with a 5:30 p.m kick-off.

Briton Ferry had the first shot in the seventh minute, as Maia Owen hit an effort from close range that was safely gathered by Becca Elliott.

Soon after in the 10th minute, Elliott took out Alison Witts that led to a penalty for the visitors. Lucy Powell then stood up for the spot-kick and sent Elliott the ball past Elliot’s left to give Rhys James’ team a 1-0 lead.

Not too long later, The New Saints were on the attack. Maria Francis-Jones whipped in a great corner that found Chantelle Teare, who headed on target, but the ball was cleared off the line by Ferry’s defence.

The 2023/24 Genero Adran South champions scored a second before the half-hour mark. A Ferry corner ended up finding Owen at the back post, and the number 11 slotted it in.

Just before the break, Sophie Phillips made a great run played a one-two with Teare, ran through on net, and hit the inside of the post. The referee and linesman both decided the ball was not the whole way over the line to allow the goal.

At the start of the second 45, Teare had a couple of opportunities inside the 18-yard-area, but was denied by a couple of Courtney Young saves.

Powell went on the front foot for Ferry before the hour, where the the 25-year-old had an effort on the edge of the box, but was denied by a fine Elliott save.

In the 65th minute, Phillips had a shot from range for Saints that narrowly went over the crossbar.

The Oswestry-based team got a goal back in the 82nd minute, as Francis-Jones played a through ball to substitute, Emily Ridge, who tucked an effort past Young’s bottom-left.

An equaliser came shortly on, with a Francis-Jones strike from outside the box firing into the top of the net.

There was to be jubilant celebrations in added-on-time, as a Ridge cross found Teare in the penalty area, and the 23-year-old scored past Young’s bottom-left and into the net.

Duffy’s team return to action next Sunday (January 19), with Cardiff City the visitors to Park Hall Stadium in a top of the table Genero Adran Premier clash.

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