Saints Women lose narrow end-to-end encounter against Bluebirds

Match Report

Goals: Teare (2), Lewis (20 [P]), Dunkerley (43)
Substitutions: Ridge for Chapman (62), Buckland for Francis-Jones (85)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Brian Jones

It was a first home defeat of the season at Park Hall Stadium for The New Saints Women, and a first loss since September, as the Oswestry-based team lost 4-3 to Cardiff City in the Genero Adran Premier.

The match went back-and-two, as The New Saints took the lead three times through Chantelle Teare, Lia Lewis, and Grace Dunkerley. The Bluebirds hit back each time, with Fiona Barry, Mikayla Cook, and Laura Curnock, before Cook netted once again to give the Bluebirds three points.

Sunday’s result means The Saints lose ground to City, who open up a five-point gap at the top, but Saints do have a game in hand.

The New Saints had a great chance to take the lead in the opening exchanges of the game, as Lexi Jones put a cross into the box that found Chantelle Teare, who headed just over the crossbar.

Moments on, Shauna Duffy’s team did take the lead. Teare had a strike from 25-yards out that flew into the top corner of the Bluebirds’ net for a 12th goal this season.

Cardiff City equalised against the run of play in the 12th minute, where Fiona Barry fired a ball past Becca Elliot’s left from inside the 18-yard area.

The Saints retook the lead soon after, following a foul on Teare in the box that led the referee to point to the spot. Lia Lewis then stepped up and smashed the spot-kick into the net to make it 2-1.

On the half-hour, the visitors equalised once again. Mikayla Cook curled in an attempt that caught Elliott off her line, and City’s number 21 found the top of the net.

The hosts went back up the other end of the pitch and almost scored in the 36th minute, when Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones, hit the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Saints did restore the lead not long before the break. Grace Dunkerley got on the end of a Tiggy Webb over-the-top ball, and managed to slot the ball past an on-rushing Ceryn Chamberlain, and into an empty goal from outside the box.

Iain Darbyshire’s team got back on level terms once more at the start of the second 45 in this end-to-end affair, as Ffion Price whipped in a corner that found Laura Curnock, who headed a chance into the net.

In the 65th minute, substitute, Emily Ridge almost netted a replica goal to last week’s Genero Adran Trophy game against Briton Ferry Llansawel, with the 32-year-old getting on the end of a Jones through ball, but hit the opportunity wide.

A couple of minutes later, City took the lead for the first time in the game. Cook got on the end of a scramble, and scored from 20-yards out.

That proved to be the difference for the defending Adran Premier champions to take three points back to South Wales.

TNS are next in action against Briton Ferry Llansawel at Old Road Welfare Ground on Sunday, February 2nd.