Four goals and three points to end the year on a high

Match Report

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: F28.Online

Goals: Chapman (7), L. Lewis (77), H. Evans (88), Ridge (87)
Substitutions Edge for Teare (87), Staley for Hartley (88), M.Evans for Chapman (88)

The New Saints Women ended 2023 on a high with a 4-1 win against Cardiff Met in the Genero Adran Premier at Park Hall Stadium.

Tiggerra Webb gave the visitors the lead, before Caitlin Chapman, Lia Lewis, Helen Evans, and Emily Ridge all found the back of the net to give The New Saints three points.

The result solidifies The Saints’ fourth place in the table, with Greg Draper’s side now five points clear of Aberystwyth Town.

Cardiff Met had the first chance of the opening exchanges, as skipper, Erin Murray shot from close range, but Mackenzie Haydn-Jones was able to palm away the effort.

The Archers then took the lead through the following set-play, where Murray whipped a corner into the box that found Tiggeraa Webb, who headed the ball into the net from inside the six-yard-area.

Caitlin Chapman found an equaliser for The New Saints in the seventh minute, as the number 17 shot from 25-yards away, with the effort going into the top corner of the Met net.

Greg Draper’s team thought they had taken the lead shortly later through a Chantelle Teare goal, but the flag went up for offside.

Teare was causing havoc for the Students’ defence once more in 19th minute, where the number nine shot from inside the 18-yard-area, however the effort was deflected wide.

Past the half hour mark, Anna Houghton got a shot away for Daniel Delehay’s side from inside the penalty area, but Haydn-Jones was there to make the save.

Just before half-time, Houghton put in cross that found Sophie Davidson in the box, who headed just wide of the post.

Moments on, Teare went up the other end of the field and had an effort from outside the box, which went narrowly went off target, with both teams heading into the break all-square.

At the start of the second 45, Chapman whipped in a corner that got headed clear by the Archers’ backline, with the ball falling to Lia Lewis, who hit a powerful opportunity that went away from goal.

In the 58th minute, Ella Hartley hit a free-kick from 20-yards out that forced Carys Gittins to dive down for the save.

The Saints were on the attack again moments on, as Chapman put in corner which found Izzy Redding, and the centre-half headed just away from goal.

It was another agonisingly close effort shortly after when a corner ball was put in the box that found Teare, who headed inches away from the net.

The visitors went up the other end of the pitch in the 72nd minute through substitute, Ellie Preece, who ran into the box with the ball and shot, as Haydn-Jones made a magnificent stop to deny the number 14.

TNS went ahead in the in the 77th minute through a Lia Lewis goal from inside the box after a pass from Teare found the 27-year-old in the 18-yard area.

The home team got a third in the 84th minute, as Chapman crossed in a corner that found Helen Evans, who tapped the ball into the net from point-blank range.

A fourth rounded up the afternoon soon after, as Ridge lobbed Gittins from outside the box.

Draper’s side are next in action on Sunday, January 7th, 2024 against Swansea University in the quarter-finals of the Genero Adran Trophy at Sketty Lane.