The New Saints Women 0-3 Cardiff City Women: Saints Lose To Bluebirds In An Entertaining Contest At Park Hall

Match Report

Match report by Michael Davies

The New Saints lost to Cardiff City 3-0 in what was a much-improved performance at Park Hall Stadium.

Bluebirds’ goals were scored by Danielle Broadhurst, Catherine Walsh and Zoe Atkins who scored in the second forty-five.

With four new signings in the Saints’ line-up it was an exciting game to watch. TNS can take much encouragement from today against the league leaders as it was a much-improved performance on the Barry Town United result last week.

The result keeps Andy Williams’ team just above relegation as Port Talbot sit below on goal difference.

Cardiff had the opening chance of the game as Ffion Price had an opportunity in the opening couple of minutes that hit the crossbar.

New  signing  Emily Ridge had a chance to score on her return to Park Hall in the eight minute as she shot from just outside the box, the ball hit Francesca Scott on the way to the net ,with Scott in a offside position the flag went up.

Five minutes after, Emily Bayliss had a chance up the other end of the pitch for Cardiff in the 18-yard with the effort going over the crossbar.

In the 18^th minute, a breakaway for Francesca Scott led her to have a shot from just outside the box that went over the Cardiff goal.

The away-side broke the deadlock not long after as a misplaced pass gave Iain Darbyshire’s side the ball. A ball played through to Danielle Broadhurst gave the forward a chance which she took as it was slotted past Parkes’ right.

Just on the stroke of half-time the Bluebirds got a second. A ball crossed into Catherine Walsh in the 18-yard area was headed in past Parkes.

Into the second forty-five, Zoe Atkins almost made it three 69 minutes in as a ball got whipped in that Atkins headed over the TNS crossbar.

Darbyshire’s team did get their third in the 74^th minute. A good run from Danielle Green led her to pass the ball to Zoe Atkins that the number 20 tapped into an empty net.

Just under ten minutes to go TNS were given a penalty. Francesca Scott stepped up with Zara Pernalete managing to guess the right way and made the save on her left side.

Sarah Parkes denied Atkins a brace with five minutes to go. A ball got crossed into the box that Atkins hit which Parkes got a glove on to stop at point blank range.