Saints stun Red Dragons at The Rock

Match Report

https://Twitter.com/tnsfcwomen/status/2106718708894711823?s=20

Goals: Barry (18, 90+4), Harrison (57)
Yellow cards: Harrison (36), Snape (66)
Substitutions: Jones for Snape (83), Baker for Chapman (88)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Nick Mesney / FAW

The New Saints Women claimed a massive three points away at The Rock against Wrexham in the Genero Adran Premier.

Saints went into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Fiona Barry and Lexie Harrison, before Natasha Thomas and Jodie Bartle levelled it up for the hosts. TNS then won the game in stoppage time through Barry for the second week running.

Sunday’s result mean Kieran Lee-Birch’s team go three points clear at the top of the Adran Premier on 15.

Wrexham started off the game quick, as the current Genero Adran Premier champions thought they took the lead 14 seconds into the encounter, when Jamaican international, Natasha Thomas hit the ball into the net off the crossbar, but the flag went up for offside.

The Red Dragons continued their aggression in the seventh minute, as Lydia Sallaway fired over from 20-yards out.

It was the hosts dictating play once again 15 minutes in, following a scramble in the box that led to Lili Jones getting a shot away from close-range, but Mackenzie Haydn-Jones was there to make a fine save to deny the homegrown player.

The New Saints took the lead against the run of play in the 18th minute. Fiona Barry intercepted the ball midway in the Wrexham half and lobbed Lucy Farrell with a fantastic effort from 35-yards away.

In the 33rd minute, Katie Barker had a shot from 25-yards out for Wrexham that Haydn-Jones managed to palm away.

Soon after, Canadian centre-half, Sarah Harvey tried her luck for Jenny Superman’s team just outside the box which went inches over the crossbar.

Wrexham came narrowly close to equalising once more in the 38th minute, as a through ball was played through to Katie Barker, who hit an attempt inside the box, however was stopped by a great Haydn-Jones save.

In added-on-time, Wrexham had multiple shots that were blocked, before Lili Jones had an attempt from a few yards away that went wide off the post.

Seconds later, the Saints went up the other end of the pitch and almost had a two-goal advantage, when Barry whipped a brilliant ball in from the right that found Caitlin Chapman in the 18-yard area, and the Gibraltar international headed an effort agonisingly wide at the back post.

Not long into the second-half, Wrexham were back on the front, when former Bolton Wanderers player, Faye Knox, hit the ball from a few yards out that went into the side netting.

Knox came close again in the 50th minute, as a ball was played through to the number 44, who got a shot away, but was denied by another fine Haydn-Jones save.

Up the other end of the pitch, Barry came near to getting a brace in the 55th minute, as the 20-year-old hit the bar not far out from the penalty area.

Wrexham were soon back to their attacking ways moments later, when Thomas headed over Saints’ net from close-range.

It was the 2025 Genero Adran Trophy champions that got the next goal in the derby fixture, as Chapman played a brilliant cross into the box that found Lexie Harrison at the back who scored from point-blank range.

Wrexham got a goal back in the 66th minute, as Knox whipped a free-kick into skipper, Jodie Bartle, and the former Celtic player headed the ball into the net from just inside the six-yard area.

In the 71st minute, Chapman drove the ball towards the Wrexham net for TNS and shot, however Farrell was there to make the save.

Former TNS player, Maria Francis-Jones, nearly levelled up proceedings in the 85th minute when a thunderous strike fired over the crossbar.

In the 87th, Wrexham were threatening again. Substitute, Evie Sadler hit a strike onto the crossbar, and then Katie Baker hit the rebound wide.

The Red Dragons equalised in the first minute of added-on-time. A Francis-Jones free-kick was initially blocked by Barry, before Thomas headed the ball in on the rebound.

TNS dramatically regained the lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Barry found the top corner with a strike from 25-yards away, and sent The Rock into silence.

Tiggy Webb headed the ball off the line seconds towards the end to hold on for a massive three points to take back to Park Hall.

Kieran Lee-Birch’s team return home next week to play Briton Ferry Llansawel in the sixth round of Adran Premier fixtures on Sunday, October 11th.