Jones strike rewards Saints Women three points over Wrexham

Match Report

Goals: L.Jones (45+1)
Yellow cards: Francis-Jones (61)
Substitutions: Buckland for Chapman (80)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Sam Eaden/FAW

A big 1-0 victory was claimed against Wrexham at Park Hall Stadium in the Genero Adran Premier on matchday eight.

Lexi Jones’ goal at the end of the first-half was all that separated the sides.

The New Saints dominated the majority of play in the encounter and could have scored more.

Sunday’s result means The Saints remain second in the Adran Premier, two points behind Cardiff City.

The New Saints Women had the first shot on goal in the 25th minute. Caitlin Chapman played a through ball to Chantelle Teare, who hit an effort in the box that brushed the side netting.

Just past the half-hour, the Red Dragons had a chance of their own, as Rosie Hughes got an attempt away from close-range that was stopped by Becca Elliott.

The New Saints took the lead in first-half stoppage time, where Teare crossed the ball into the six-yard area that found Lexi Jones, who following a scramble in the box, managed to score past Liz Craven’s bottom-left corner.

Jones almost got another goal at the start of the second 45, as a Chapman through ball found the Wales U17 international, but the number 11 fired wide.

In the 52nd minute, The Saints managed to stay ahead, as Elliott stopped a good Carra Jones strike from a few yards out.

Not long later, Mari Gibbard tried her luck from distance for the visitors, however the ball flew over the crossbar.

Saints knocked on the door for a second past the hour, with a through ball by Chapman collected by Teare, but the forward hit the ball off target.

Shauna Duffy’s team continued to press for another goal in the 64th minute, where a Teare cross found Grace Dunkerley at the back post, and the 18-year-old had an effort, only to be denied by a fine Craven save.

Wrexham were up the other end in the 75th minute. A Brooke Cairns 25-yard shot was caught by Elliott, as the game remained in the Oswestry team’s favour.

Several minutes on Jones had a chance for TNS, but Craven saved the attempt at her bottom-right corner.

Not long before the final whistle, Jones passed the ball through to substitute, Olivia Buckland, who shot wide.

It wasn’t to make a difference in the end, as three crucial points were claimed.

Duffy’s side’s next fixture is against Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus on Sunday, December 1 in the Adran Premier.