Cwmbran Celtic Ladies vs Llanelli Town

Match Report

We notched up a most impressive 4-0 win against Llanelli Town in our first game of the season at the Avondale Motor Park Arena. We created 3 chances in the opening half hour, Lauren Boyd hitting a free kick wide and Fiona Anthony twice testing the keeper. Llanelli’s one shot on target was a rising shot by Varney well saved by Amie Preston-Roberts. Macey Morris was showing up well on the right wing and she put Fiona in to bring a diving save from keeper Bethan Ellis. The visitors responded with 2 shots, one saved by Amie and the other cleared off the Celtic line. On 30 minutes we took the lead. Cerys Shipley received a throw in and advanced on goal down the left bye line before shooting from an acute angle. Ellis could only parry the ball into the path of Fiona Anthony to score with a simple tap-in. Boyd embarked on a mazy run across field before straightening up on the left and bringing a save from Ellis and Shipley shot over the bar just before the break.

Two minutes into the 2^nd half we went 2 up. Lauren Boyd was bundled over in the penalty box and she picked herself up to send Ellis the wrong way with the spot kick. Macey Morris shot over the bar and, on the hour, Llanelli applied some sustained pressure with 2 shots, a free kick over the bar and a shot wide. We responded with Boyd and substitute Hollie Channing bringing saves from Ellis. The game went into time added on in which we scored 2 more goals. Morris ran onto a lovely pass down the right by Channing to smash the ball into the roof of the net and Fiona Anthony scored her 2^nd with a fine forward foray in which she left 2 defenders flat-footed to stroke the ball between the keeper’s legs for the 4^th goal and there was still time for Shipley to bring a good diving save from Ellis.

This was a fine performance by the squad which has strength in depth across the park which was demonstrated by the impressive performances of substitutes Georgie Cridland, Gracie Grosvenor and Hollie Channing. Gracie and Hollie had assists for the last two goals. The loss of Kaitlin Smith in attack is a huge blow but Fiona Anthony relished the opportunity to take up the central striker role with her 2 goals and Cerys Shipley and Macey Morris both had fine matches in their supporting roles.

POM: Fiona Anthony