Saints Women Complete The Great Escape On The Final Day

Match Report

Goals: Harrison (45+1), Ridge (59, 72), Chapman (85).
Substitutions: Whitefoot for Griffiths (77), Turner for Platt (77), Rathe for Harrison (86)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints FC Women stay up on the last day with a 4-0 victory over Port Talbot Town Ladies at Park Hall Stadium in the Genero Adran Premier Plate.

Lexie Harrison scored in stoppage time of the first half before Emily Ridge hit a brace and Caitlin Chapman found the net in the second forty-five.

It was an even affair before The New Saints found the net before the break as the floodgates then opened in the second-half.

The victory was a fourth consecutive one in the Adran Premier Plate, as Andy Williams’ team ended the campaign on a high to finish sixth after being five points from safety with four games left. The win was also the biggest in the league season.

After a nervous opening fifteen minutes, Port Talbot Town had the first chance in the 17^th after Coryn Sexton whipped in a ball that found Jess Hammett in the box who headed wide of the post.

Soon later, The New Saints had their first chance when Lucie Platt played a through ball to Emily Ridge as the forward just shot wide in the 18-yard area.

In the 23rd minute, Saints were on the attack once more, Ridge passed a ball to Georgia Griffiths on the “d” which the midfielder then shot at goal, but Emily Roberts was there stop the effort.

Four later Griffiths had another attempt, the no.7 hit the ball on the edge of the box as Roberts palmed the ball away.

Before the half hour mark, Hitesh Patel’s team had an attempt through Sexton who shot from 20-yards away with the effort going wide of the post.

In the 38th minute, there were consecutive shots from Andy Williams’ side from Platt and Lia Lewis, the first effort by Platt got blocked with the rebound hit from Lewis on the edge of the penalty area going wide of the net.

Two on, Platt had another attempt from outside the 18-yard area that deflected towards goal as Roberts made the catch.

Just before half-time Port Talbot had their best opportunity as Courtney Thomas had a shot from 6-yards out that skied over the net.

Moments before the break, Harrison had a shot from 20-yards out which went wide.

In stoppage time of the first-half TNS took the lead. Ridge had an attempt from outside the box that Roberts collected, however the Talbot keeper spilled the ball as Harrison was then there on the rebound to score in to an empty net.

At the start of the second forty-five, Ridge had an effort from Range which Roberts collected.

Not long after in the 48th minute, Platt passed the ball to Helen Evans as the left-back hit the ball from outside the box with the opportunity drifting wide of the net.

Seven after the away team came close as Thomas had a shot from 25-yards that hit the crossbar and went out for a goal-kick.

Just before the hour mark TNS took a two-goal lead. Lewis played a fantastic through ball to Chapman who passed the ball across goal to Ridge with the forward hitting the chance in to an empty net.

In the 69th minute, Andy Williams’ team almost got a third as Ridge hit the crossbar.

There was a third three minutes later. Roberts gave the ball away straight to Ridge who shot from 35-yards away and found the net.

TNS were on the attack once more two minutes on. Griffiths had an attempt from just outside the box which Roberts stopped.

In the 79th minute, Patel’s side looked for a response, as Vicky Beddows had an effort from 30-yards away, however Sarah Parkes caught the attempt.

Five after, substitute Lilly Whitefoot had a shot from 20-yards out that Roberts palmed away.

It was four in the 85th minute when Northern Ireland under-19 player, Chapman ran in to the box and scored past Roberts’ near post. It was the last opportunity of the encounter, as TNS made the great escape.