Semi-final exit in Bute Energy Welsh Cup for Saints Women

Match Report

Yellow cards: Teare (64)
Substitutions: Manders for Edge (85)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Nik Mesney (FAW)

The New Saints Women bowed out at the semi-final stage of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup, as Greg Draper’s team suffered a 1-0 loss against Wrexham at Cae-Y-Castell.

Rosie Hughes netted the only goal of the match at the end of the first-half, in a semi-final that could have gone either way.

Wrexham were on the front foot in the early stages, as in the 8th minute, Rosie Hughes played a through ball to Amber Lightfoot, who had an effort from inside the box that went narrowly wide of the post.

Not long later, Lightfoot had another attempt, but this time a long-range effort, as the shot went wide once again.

In the 17th minute of the game, The New Saints got the first shot on target in the encounter, with Emily Ridge having a strike from inside the box, but Del Morgan was able to make the stop.

On the half-hour mark, The Saints almost took the lead. Grace Dunkerley put in a corner ball that found Helen Evans in the 18-yard-area, who had a header at goal that was cleared by Phoebe Davies.

Steve Dale’s Wrexham were back on the attack in the 38th minute, where a free-kick from inside the box due to a back-pass eventually led to Hughes getting an effort away that went blazing off target.

A couple of minutes on, Draper’s Saints came close up the other end of the pitch. A Helen Evans free-kick found Chantelle Teare at the back post, where Teare headed the ball at goal, but Morgan was there to gather the ball.

Moments on, Davies had an attempt for the Red Dragons from just outside the 18-yard-area that Ellie Suckley stopped.

The game continued to go back-and-fourth, as in the 43rd minute, Ridge got a strike away from close range that hit the side netting. 

Just before half-time, Wrexham took the lead. An attempted Izzy Redding clearance was blocked by Carra Jones that led to Hughes gathering the ball and scoring from a few yards out into Suckley’s bottom-right corner.

TNS came agonisingly close to getting an equaliser in the 70th minute, as Dunkerley put a great ball into the box that neither Chloe Shirley or Ridge could connect with from point-blank range.

In the 84th minute, the Oswestry-based team continued to knock on the door for a leveller, with an Evans 20-yard free-kick being saved by Morgan.

A couple minutes on, TNS were on the attack once again. Substitute, Evie Manders, put in a great cross into the 18-yard-area that found Teare, who headed wide.

The game was almost wrapped up for Wrexham in the 90th minute, where Lightfoot hit the post from a shot just inside the box. It wasn’t to make a difference though, as the Red Dragons walked away 1-0 winners.

Draper’s side are next in action against Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus in the first game of phase two in the Genero Adran Premier on Sunday, March 10th.