Briton Ferry Llansawel v Cwmbran Celtic Ladies

Match Report

Briton Ferry took the lead in this Adran Trophy knock-out stage cup match in the 12^th minute when Maia Owen made a brilliant run down the left by-line and played the ball into the 6-yard box for skipper Megan Kearle to tap in. A shot on the turn by Kearle brought an excellent save from Amie Preston-Roberts tipping the ball over the bar for a corner. Jess Denscombe shot just wide of the goal from 25 yards and a shot by ex-Celtic star Jade Crofts was saved by Amie’s outstretched boot. Celtic were pleased to have Macey Morris back in their attack and in the 30^th minute she used her pace to fly past the defender on the right wing to cross where Llewellyn’s boot diverted the ball goalwards. Keeper Courtney Young blocked the deflection but Cerys Shipley followed up to drive the ball over the line. A minute later Ferry were back in front. Amie’s goal-kick was driven back goalwards by the quick-thinking Walkley Witts into the path of Kearle who strode forward, rounded Amie and scored a cooly taken goal. Amie saved a 25-yard shot from Grunewald and in the closing minutes before half-time Celtic were awarded a penalty. Georgie Cridland crossed from the left, Cerys Shipley headed the ball across the goal where Kett-White hand-balled. However, Fiona Anthony blazed the penalty kick over the bar and Ferry went in at the interval 2-1 ahead.

We started the 2^nd half well. Macey Morris using her pace to cut in on the right to force a corner and Fiona Anthony bringing a save from Young. On 52 minutes we were back level, Cerys Pinchard scoring with a perfect 20-yard free kick into the corner of the net. Jade Crofts had two chances to score against her old club, shooting wide from distance and bringing a save from Amie’s boot. Cerys Pinchard tested the keeper with a long range lob. In the 89^th minute Ferry were awarded a penalty when Abigal Jones was adjudged to have brought Walkley-Witts down in the box, but Luci Powell struck the bar with her spot kick. However, in time added on Lauren Payne ran onto a through ball and placed the ball into the corner of the net for the winning goal.

We gave as good as we got in this highly entertaining game against 5^th-placed Genero Adran Premier opposition whose outstanding captain Megan Kearle’s performance tipped the balance in her team’s favour.