Tough day for Saints Women at Park Hall

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/2023020117018484851?s=20

Goals: Chapman (68)
Yellow cards: Davies (31), Baker (73)
Substitutions: Edge for Richardson (46), Jones for Dunkerley (46), Baker for Davies (46), Crees for Teare (79), Buckland for Gibbs (79)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: F28.Online

It was a tough day for The New Saints Women at Park Hall Stadium, as Kieran Lee-Birch’s team lost 5-1 to league leaders, Cardiff City.

Captain, Shannon Evans, got a brace, with the other goals coming from Maddison Perrott, Lily Billingham, and Madison Lloyd.

Caitlin Chapman got a consolation goal for The New Saints midway through the second-half.

Iain Darbyshire’s Bluebirds were on top for a large proportion of the encounter and deserved the three points.

The result leaves the Saints fourth in the Adran Premier table on 23 points.

In the opening exchanges of the encounter, Cardiff City threatened early, as Madison Lloyd ran into the box and hit the crossbar from close-range.

The league leaders continued to attack in the seventh minute and took the lead. Lloyd crossed in a low corner that found skipper, Shannon Evans, just inside the box, who smashed the past Orla Howard’s bottom-left corner.

It was 2-0 just a couple of minutes on, when a Mackenzie Olden corner found Maddison Perrott, in the penalty area and the number 15 headed the ball into the net.

A third goal came for Iain Darbyshire’s team in the 16th minute, as Lily Billigham raced up the pitch, and slotted the ball into Howard’s bottom-left corner from not far out.

In the 27th minute, Billingham had a shot from 20-yards out that was safely gathered by Howard.

Not too long later, Olden ran in and had an effort from a few yards out that was saved well by Howard to keep the Bluebirds out.

On the half-hour mark, The New Saints had their first shot on target, as Chantelle Teare hit a powerful attempt from just inside the box that was stopped by Ceryn Chamberlain.

Soon on, Cardiff were back up the other end of the pitch, as Billingham had an effort from inside the “D” that narrowly went over the crossbar.

Not long before the break, Olden ran around the Saints defence, and got a shot away, however the ball was cleared off the line by Mia Davies.

In the 45th minute, Teare had good shot from inside the box, that was caught well by Chamberlain.

A few minutes into the second-half, Chapman had a free-kick from outside the box that was gathered by the Cardiff goalkeeper.

Cardiff got a fourth just before the hour, as Olden played a through ball to Lloyd, who slotted an effort into the net from close distance.

Moments after the restart, Ffion Price hit a set-piece from long distance that was palmed over the crossbar very well by Howard.

In the 67th minute, Teare had a good one-two with Zara Gibbs for the number nine to run in on goal, but the shot hit the side netting.

Lee-Birch’s TNS got a consolation goal seconds later, as Chapman scored past Chamberlain’s near post from a few yards out.

Moments following the goal, Cardiff returned to their attacking threat, when Howard denied a curling effort from substitute, Mikayla Cook.

Cardiff had a fifth in the 74th minute, as Price delivered in a wicked free-kick delivery that was headed into the goal from captain, Evans, for her brace. It was the last of the goals, with the visitors walking away with the points.

TNS return to action in two weeks time (Sunday, March 1st), as Swansea City are the visitors to Park Hall in the Adran Premier.