Cwmbran Celtic Ladies vs Wrexham

Last season Wrexham were 3rd in the Women’s Premier league in their first season in tier 1 and were Welsh cup runners-up so it was always going to be a tough game for Celtic who had to re-organise their defence in the absence of suspended Elena Scrivens. Skipper Eloise Meaney dropped back to central defence and Fiona Anthony dropped to midfield in place of the unavailable Jodie Challenger. This inevitably weakened Celtic’s potency, missing the influential Eloise in midfield and Fiona’s incisive running up front. Having gone a goal down Celtic equalised from a fabulous individual effort by striker Jade Crofts which needs to be watched on the video to appreciate its quality. Keeper Amie Preston’s clearance skidded off the head of a Wrexham player into the path of Jade. With her back to two defenders, Jade dummied and let the ball run between the flat-footed pair. She skipped between them and raced in on goal to shoot. Wrexham skipper and keeper Delyth Morgan stood her ground and blocked the shot but Jade kept her cool and stroked the rebound left-footed into the net for the 15th minute equaliser.

In the 2nd half Wrexham played some delightful football going forwards and scored 3 more goals against the tiring home side. They were denied more goals by 3 great saves by Amie Preston, one of which was of Gordon Banks proportions – a diving save to her left palming a point blank shot onto the post which was then cleared by a Celtic boot.

Amie joined Celtic this season from Kidderminster Harriers after previously playing at Stourbridge Ladies where she won the West Midlands League and the National League Midlands Division 1 golden gloves awards in successive seasons.

The attendance of 201 was a Celtic Women’s record .