Chapman brace helps Saints Women claim derby day win

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/1969736148495827244

Goals: Chapman (10, 42), Teare (16), Gibbs (48)
Substitutions: Crees for Gibbs (73), Thomas for Teare (84), S.Jones for Chapman (88)

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

It was derby day delight for The New Saints Women against Wrexham, as Jodie Williams’ team claimed a 4-2 win over the Red Dragons in the Genero Adran Premier at Park Hall Stadium.

Caitlin Chapman netted a brace, with Chantelle Teare and Zara Gibbs also on the scoresheet for The New Saints. Wrexham did get a couple of consolation goals through Mariam Mahmood in the last few moments of the first-half, and a Neve Adams strike just before the final whistle.

It was an end-to-end encounter with the Saints being the side able to make the most of the chances.

Sunday’s result is a third consecutive Park Hall victory over Wrexham, and leaves the Saints fourth on six points after three games played.

The New Saints started the match brightly in the 10th minute, as Kelsey Richardson intercepted the ball in midfield and played a good pass through to Gibraltar international, Caitlin Chapman, who cut inside the box, and scored past Liz Craven.

It was almost a second moments on when the ball fell to skipper, Lia Lewis, who hit an effort from a few yards out that was saved well by Wrexham keeper, Craven.

Jodie Williams’ Saints found a second goal in the 16th minute, when a brilliant Zara Gibbs through ball found Chapman, and the number 17 passed it onto Chantelle Teare, with the forward successfully slotting the ball into the net from inside the box.

Before the half-hour, Katie Barker got an attempt away at the net for Wrexham, but Becca Elliott was there to comfortably collect.

The Red Dragons were on the attack again in the 33rd minute, as a Lili Jones cross was headed towards goal by captain, Jodie Bartle, deflected on by Saints defender, Kay Baker, and hit the post before being cleared.

It was the Genero Adran Trophy champions that went up the other end of the pitch and got a third in the 42nd minute. A terrific Teare cross found Chapman in the box, who netted from close-range.

Not long before half-time, the visitors had a couple of decent opportunities. Firstly, Ava Suckley, got an effort at goal from inside the 18-yard-area that Elliot stopped. Barker then had another shot for Wrexham that Elliot managed to keep out.

In added on time, Jenny Surgarman’s team got a goal, when a pass through from substitute, Abbie Iddenden, found Pakistan international, Mariam Mahmood, who slotted the ball past the legs of Elliott.

At the start of the second-half, TNS were back the attack. A Teare cross found Gibbs, and the former Kidderminster Harriers player hit narrowly wide.

In the 48th minute, the hosts regained the three-goal margin. Wales international, Maria Francis-Jones, delivered a great cross that found Gibbs, who scored into the keeper’s bottom-right of the net.

Wrexham went back on the front foot in the 55th minute, as a Hannah Snape corner found Bartle in the box, who headed wide.

Before the hour, Lili Jones got a shot away from distance that fired inches wide.

It was Wrexham that continued to press in the 68th minute, when a Iddenden pass went through to Barker, and the number 18 had a shot in the box that was palmed away by Elliott, before the rebound was smashed over.

With minutes of the encounter to go, Barker made a good run into the TNS box and shot just wide.

Wrexham got a second goal of the game in the fourth minute of stoppage time when substitutes, Rosie Hughes and Neve Adams combined. Hughes passed on a ball to Adams, who fired the ball off the post and into the net from inside the penalty area.

It was not to make a difference on the outcome, as TNS claimed a 4-2 win.

Williams’ Saints are next in action against Briton Ferry Llansawel at Old Road Welfare Ground on Sunday, September 28th.

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