Holders beat Dragons to book semi-final spot

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/2000189870850093339?s=20

Goals: Harrison (25, 71), Francis-Jones (30, 72), Webb (45+1)
Yellow cards: Evans (85)
Substitutions: Edge for Richardson (58), Evans for Crees (67), Paraiso for Webb (67), Buckland for Francis-Jones (78), Thomas for Harrison (78)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Craig Thomas / FAW

The New Saints Women advanced to the semi-finals of the Genero Adran Trophy following a 5-1 win against Pontypridd United at Park Hall Stadium.

Madison Lloyd gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the game, before braces by Lexie Harrison and Maria Francis-Jones, and a Tiggy Webb goal turned the match around.

It is the fifth consecutive time that the holders have advanced to the semi-finals.

It was Pontypridd United that started off brightly, as Scott Birrell’s team took the lead 37 seconds into the match after a mix up in the box led to Madison Lloyd running in and tapping the ball home into an empty net.

The visitors had another effort not long later when skipper, Jemima Lister, had a shot from inside the box that went narrowly wide.

It was the Dragons that continued to be on top with Lloyd having an effort from outside the box that was caught by Charlie Scott in the 17th minute.

The New Saints had their first good opportunity of the encounter moments on, as Charlotte Crees passed the ball across to Lexie Harrison, who shot at goal, but was denied by a superb stop from Anna Phelps.

In the 25th minute, the Saints found an equaliser, as Gibraltar international, Caitlin Chapman, played a pass to Harrison, who scored with a shot off the post from just inside the box.

On the half hour mark, Mikey Harris’ team went 2-1 up thanks to an excellent corner from Maria Francis-Jones that went all the way in.

Before the break, there was a third for the Genero Adran Trophy holders. Grace Dunkerley put in an excellent corner that found Tiggy Webb in the box, who netted from close-range.

A few minutes into the second 45, Harrison made an excellent run and shot just inside the 18-yard area for Saints, with a thunderous strike denied of going in by the crossbar.

In the 55th minute, Pontypridd had a shot at goal, as a cross found Lister in the box, who headed just over the crossbar.

Before the hour, the visitors came narrowly close once more. Lloyd went seeking for a brace as she ran through on goal and shot from a few yards out that hit the post.

A fourth goal came in the 71st minute for TNS, as Harrison got a brace from point-blank range following a Chapman cross.

Goal number five came moments after the restart, as captain, Lia Lewis, played a through ball to Francis-Jones, who slotted the ball past Anna Phelps from inside the box for her brace.

In the 79th minute, Chapman found centre-half, Kay Baker, in the box after a great ball, and Baker had a header at the net that just went agonisingly wide.

Before the end of the match, Yes Evans crossed the ball into Chapman, who fired the ball at the net, but was denied by a fine Phelps save.

TNS are next in action away at Cambrian United in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup on Sunday, December 21st in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup.