Jones winner secures Saints third-place finish

Match Report

Goals: Jones (83)
Yellow cards: Baker (30), Dunkerley (86)
Substitutions: Edge for Thomas (34), Chapman for Havard (70)

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

The New Saints Women secured third-place on the final day of the Genero Adran Premier with a 1-0 win over Wrexham at Park Hall Stadium.

It was The New Saints that pushed for the winner more in the second-half, and the reward came late on in the match, as Lexi Jones found the back of the net.

Third-place is the highest position The Saints have finished in the Adran Premier.

Early on in the game, The New Saints had  Lia Lewis played a through ball to Lexi Jones, and the number 11 hit the target, with Del Morgan making the save.

In the 10th minute, The Saints continued to press, as Chantelle Teare made a cross to Molly Havard, who shot, but the effort went wide.

Moments on at the other end of the pitch, Lili Jones hit an opportunity from outside the box, however the ball fired wide.

Later on in the half, the Red Dragons had another go at goal when a Lili Jones free-kick found Abbie Iddenden in the 18-yard area, who headed at the net, however Mackenzie Haydn-Jones was there to make the save.

At the start of the second 45, Maria Francis-Jones played a good over-the-top ball to Lexi Jones, with the 17-year-old running through on goal and shot, but was denied by Morgan.

Seconds on, a corner from Francis-Jones found Kay Baker in the penalty area. The number six managed to have a header at goal that glanced over the crossbar.

The Oswestry-based team continued to attack in the 56th minute, a Teare cross found Lexi Jones, who shot, however Morgan palmed away the opportunity.

Another chance came shortly before the hour, when an effort from close-range was had by Baker following a corner, with Morgan there was again to make a stop.

In the 65th minute, Wrexham went on the counter attack through Lili Jones, who fired at the TNS net from distance, as the effort went inches off target.

Shauna Duffy’s side were back on the aggressive shortly on through a Grace Dunkerley attempt a few yards out that drifted away from goal.

Wrexham were very close to taking the lead in 79th minute, when a ball got played into Rosie Hughes, and the number nine hit the crossbar from point-blank range.

Another chance came for Steve Dale’s team soon, as substitute, Carra Jones, hit the post.

TNS took the lead in the 81st minute, when a Teare pass across the box landed at the feet at Lexi Jones, who scored past Morgan’s left.

Lexi Jones almost had a brace a few minutes later when one-on-one with Morgan, who made another stop for Wrexham.

In the dying moments of the match, Dale’s side almost got an equaliser, when Carra Jones crossed a ball into Rebeca Pritchard, however an effort by the number seven went over the crossbar.

It was the end of the action, with Duff’s team ending the season on a high with a derby victory.