Saints Women exit Adran Trophy at semi-final stage

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/2012874005229846746?s=20

Yellow cards: Baker (57)
Substitutions: Jones for Dunkerley (65), Evans for Webb (79), Edge for Richardson (79), Buckland for Baker (90)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

The New Saints Women’s defence of the Genero Adran Trophy ended at the semi-final stage following a 3-0 defeat against Cardiff City at Park Hall Stadium.

Maddison Lloyd netted a brace, with Mackenzie Olden also on the scoresheet for the Bluebirds.

In the opening exchanges of the match, Fiona Barry threatened for the visitors in the 4th minute, as a corner kick hit the near post.

Barry was on the attack for Iain Darbyshire’s team moments on, when effort from the number eight inside the box went wide of the target.

It was Barry that continued to threaten in the ninth minute, as a shot from a few yards out went narrowly wide of the post.

Cardiff City took the lead in the 13th minute. A corner was whipped into the box that was scored on the rebound from by Madison Lloyd from point-blank range.

The New Saints had their first chance in the 25th minute, when a Maria Francis-Jones free-kick from just outside the box when wide of the net.

There was another chance for the hosts seconds on, as Chantelle Teare ran through on goal, and shot, but was denied by a Ceryn Chamberlain save.

The Bluebirds went up the other end of the pitch and doubled their advantage in the 26th minute, as Barry passed the ball across the box to Mackenzie Olden, who netted from close distance.

Before half-time, Barry had a shot from 25-yards out that was safely gathered by Mackenzie Haydn-Jones.

Just short of the hour mark, Shannon Evans had a shot for Cardiff that just rolled wide of the post.

Cardiff got a third in the 67th minute, as a long over-the-top ball found Lloyd, who slotted past Haydn-Jones from close-range for the forward’s brace.

The Saints almost got one back in the 71st minute, when Caitlin Chapman had an effort inside the box the following a corner that went narrowly wide of the post.

In the 75th minute, Saints substitute, Lexi Jones, had an effort from just outside the 18-yard-area that rattled the post.

At the end of normal time, Francis-Jones hit a free-kick for Kieran Lee-Birch’s TNS from 20-yards out that was palmed away by Cardiff goalkeeper, Chamberlain.

In added-on time, Olivia Buckland came of the bench and had a shot from distance that went inches wide of the post which that was the last of the action of the game.

TNS are in action next Sunday (January 25th), as it is a return to Genero Adran Premier action against Aberystwyth Town at Park Hall with a later kick-off time of 5:10 p.m.