Cardiff Met vs Cwmbran Celtic Ladies

Match Report

We scooped the SWFA cup for the 3^rd time with an outstanding performance against Adran South champions Cardiff MET who were hoping to achieve a league and cup double. We were dealt a blow by the absence of keeper Amie Preston-Roberts, the latest victim of the voodoo that has seen them also missing Abigail Jones, Kaitlin Smith and Lauren Boyd this season. Alex Cridland stood in for Amie in goal. Jody Challenger warmed up for the game by running a half marathon in the morning !!

Both sides played tentatively in the opening minutes. The first chance fell to us, Gracie Grosvenor’s shot from a Cerys Pinchard free kick was blocked. Cerys was to the fore, firing another free kick and 3 corners into the 6-yard box which the MET managed to clear. In the 20^th minute there was a 4-minute hold-up whilst skipper Eloise Meaney was treated for a nose bleed after a clash on the half-way line. Macey Morris was, as usual, causing problems with her pace on the left flank. Twice she crossed the ball but nobody was at the far post to pick up. However, in the 26^th minute she crossed to Fiona Anthony who was tripped for a penalty which Grosvenor took but the MET keeper, 17-year-old Verity Jones, standing in for Bethan Ellis, guessed the right way and saved the kick. Jones was one of six teenage starters for the MET, the other 5 are all 1^st team squad regulars such is the youthfulness of their team.

The MET’s first chance fell to Demi Parry who shot high and wide in the 36^th minute. This was the start of a short spell of exerted pressure from the MET and they should have taken the lead a minute later when Gracie Howard took an age to control the ball right in front of goal and her eventual shot was hit tamely straight at Alex Cridland.

In the 2^nd half the MET had two chances – one wide, the other over the bar. In the 74^th minute Celtic took the lead with a superbly worked goal. Morris got her body in the way of a clearance. Summer Bowen-Quirk astutely played the ball back to Eloise Meaney whose long ball into the 18-yard box was met by Chelsea Cochrane who sneaked between the defender and outrushing keeper to steal the ball and find the net.  For the MET Scarlett Davies shot well wide and Alex Cridland was twice quickly off her line to clear up on the edge of the box. Fiona had a shot blocked and another silky move from us was started by Pinchard and continued by Cochrane and Jodie Challenger who returned the ball to Pinchard who brought a diving save from keeper Jones. Georgie Cridland headed over from a corner by Pinchard. A shot by MET substitute Rayner was blocked. Cerys Shipley came on as substitute and was quickly into the action, slipping the ball to Daniels to feed Morris who ran to the bye-line and crossed to Shipley whose shot hit the bar. The ball was not cleared and Morris shot to bring a fine finger-tip save from Jones.  In the 85^th minute we made it 2-0 when Eloise Meaney rose at the far post to meet Pinchard’s corner with a stunning header into the net. The MET’s first corner in the closing minutes was headed wide by Kennesha Nanette and Daniels shot straight at the keeper. There was time for our 3^rd substitute, 18-year-old Mia Peacock, to make her 8^th appearance of the season.

We were well-deserving winners. Our midfield triumvirate of Cochrane, Pinchard and Jodie Challenger were outstanding in the middle of the park. The back four, comprising the outstanding leader Meaney, the rock-solid Ellie Bidhendy and Summer Bowen-Quirk and the resolute Georgie Cridland protected Alex Cridland so well that the keeper had only one save to make. Morris and Grosvenor ran their hearts out up front, and Shipley and Daniels kept up the pressure when they came on. And to think we still had Hollie Channing, an outstanding performer in so many games this season, still on the bench along with Elena Scrivens who it was good to see back in the squad after 4 months out. Finally, well done to the management Georgia and Sam, and to their assistants, Martin, Andrew and Kaitlin.