Match Report: Cyncoed Ladies 1-4 Cardiff City FC Women
Cardiff City FC Women defeated Cyncoed Ladies 4-1 in the Welsh Premier Women’s League at Cardiff University Playing Fields on Sunday afternoon and moved up to second in the standings.
Alana Murphy’s first-half brace sent City into a comfortable lead at the break and after the interval, Emily Griffiths and Zoe Atkins added their names on the scoresheet, before Sophie Norman netted a consolation goal for the hosts at the end.
Joel Hutton made three changes to the side from last time out, as Mollie Jones, Murphy and Danielle Green entered the starting XI.
The game’s first opportunity went the way of the hosts after three minutes, as Ffion Price’s awkward attempt from the right edge of the area was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Ceryn Chamberlain.
Five minutes later, the Bluebirds attacked and Green sped inside off the left wing, prior to producing a through-ball for Murphy, though goalkeeper Chelsea Herbert got there first and gathered. It took just two minutes for Green to look dangerous again, as she cut into the area from the left flank and produced a powerful effort that was parried and then gathered by Herbert.
City opened the scoring with 14 minutes played through the threatening Murphy, who composedly slotted into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area. The following two minutes saw forward Catherine Walsh turn inside the area and at an angle, shooting into Herbert’s arms.
Cyncoed had a superb opportunity after 21 minutes, when Price was through on goal, although Kanisha-Mae Underdown brilliantly tracked back to end the attack. One minute later, Catherine Walsh attempted from range, but was denied by Herbert again.
As half-time approached, Cardiff City doubled their advantage through Murphy’s second goal. Left-back Griffiths’ cross found the 21-year-old, who chipped in from close range and earned her tenth league goal of the season.
After the interval, it took four minutes for the visitors to come close to a third, as Underdown let fly with an ambitious attempt from range that travelled agonisingly close over the crossbar. That was the last threat until the 61st minute, when Griffiths added a third by finishing at the back-post off Underdown’s whipped free-kick from the right edge of the box.
Six minutes later, dominant City struck a fourth as substitute Zoe Atkins paced through on goal and powerfully finished past the onrushing Herbert. It was the January signing’s fourth goal from her eighth appearance.
Cardiff City’s second substitute Monet Legall also looked to make an impact and the 19-year-old was proving troublesome on the right wing. With five minutes of the 90 remaining, she shot from the right flank and the distanced effort was saved by Herbert.
The hosts did manage to score a consolation goal, one minute into added time and it was through Norman’s finessed free-kick from the left edge of the area, which found the net’s right. That proved to be the encounter’s concluding action and the Bluebirds sealed two victories from this season’s two meetings with Cyncoed.
FINAL SCORE: CYNCOED LADIES 1-4 CARDIFF CITY FC WOMEN
Cyncoed Ladies: Herbert, Osborne, Hoare, Grant, Attwood, Williams, Bevan, Norman, Price, K. Pervin-Davies, Hill (Burrage 64’). Subs not used: M. Pervin-Davies, Roberts.
Cardiff City FC Women: Chamberlain, Jones, Griffiths, Daley, C. Walsh (Legall 62’), Connolly, Owen, Underdown, Murphy, Broadhurst (Atkins 56’), Green (Gibbs 67’). Subs not used: S. Walsh, McDonough.
