Saints suffer defeat against Bluebirds at Park Hall

Match Report

Goals: Evans (23).
Substitutions: Samson for Platt (77), B.Lewis for Lockley (82), Ashworth for Teare (82).

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Andrew Donnison

The New Saints Women suffered a 5-1 loss against Cardiff City at Park Hall Stadium in the second game of the Genero Adran Premier Championship Conference.

Helen Evans scored mid-way through the first-half for The New Saints, before Zoe Atkins and Danielle Broadhurst found the net for City. The Bluebirds’ second-half goals came from Siobhan Walsh, Rhianne Oakley and substitute Eliza Collie.

Sunday’s result keeps The Saints fourth in the Championship Conference.

Cardiff City had two chances in the space of a couple of minutes at the start of the match. Danielle Green shot wide from outside the box, before Zoe Atkins had a header in the 18-yard area that hit the post.

In the 17th minute, a mix-up at the back led to Lucie Platt getting an effort away from the 18-yard line that hit the pot.

The New Saints took the lead in the 23rd minute, through a Caitlin Chapman cross which found Helen Evans, who headed the ball in from close range.

Not long later, the Bluebirds equalised. Green whipped in a cross and Atkins found the net at the back post.

City took a 2-1 lead in the 34th minute, as Megan Bowen found Danielle Broadhurst, and the forward struck the ball past Sarah Parkes in the box.

Before half-time, Iain Darbyshire’s team came close to a third. Broadhurst had an attempt in the six-yard area that was met by a magnificent save from Parkes.

At the start of the second 45, Chapman whipped in a corner that found Izzy Redding, who headed just over the crossbar.

The away side got a third in the 57th minute. Seren Watkins put in a corner cross to Siobhan Walsh, where the forward headed the ball into the back of the net in the 18-yard area.

City got a fourth in the 64th minute, as Rhian Oakley slotted the ball past Parkes’ bottom-right corner.

The Bluebirds made it 5-1 right at the death. Green passed the ball to substitute Eliza Collie, who netted from six-yards out.

Greg Draper’s team are next in action in two weeks time away at Llandarcy Academy of Sport against Swansea City Ladies in the Adran Premier (March 19).