Cardiff City Women produced a stunning second half comeback to win 4-2 against Aberystwyth Town and go top of the Genero Adran Premier table.
First half goals from Rebecca and Llecu Mathias had given the hosts a two-goal lead at the break, but a hat-trick from Ffion Price turned the game around before Fiona Barry added a fourth in stoppage time to secure the victory.
The Bluebirds started brightly and had some early opportunities to take the lead. Mikayla Cook, returning to the starting line-up, looked sharp on the left wing. She came close to opening the scoring after 20 minutes after being played in by Price, but slid her effort just wide of the post.
Price came even closer to breaking the deadlock shortly after with a vintage free kick from range, which thundered off the crossbar.
Aberystwyth were able to take advantage with two goals in three minutes through Mathius sisters Llecu and Rebecca, giving the hosts a half time lead.
However, just past the hour mark, Price halved the deficit in style with a free-kick to beat substitute goalkeeper Sophie Steele.
Fresh off the bench, City forward Barry came into the game and looked threatening. She first showed some excellent footwork to beat her defender and get off a low shot which tested Steele, and then it was her turn to hit the crossbar via a deflection.
But up stepped Price, who levelled the scoring after driving deep into the Aber half and hitting an effort low into the corner. She followed it up with an 89th minute free kick, floating the ball into the top corner from a tight angle.
Barry added a fourth in additional time to ensure the win, which moves City to the top of the Adran Premier table.
REACTION | IAIN DARBYSHIRE
After the full-time whistle, head coach Darbyshire said: “I’m so proud of the players. Even in the first half, we played our football and played some really good stuff. We should have put the game to bed to be honest, we had so many chances. Credit to Aber, they took their moments well when they came with two good finishes. From us, it's two soft goals to concede, but we’re asking the girls to play a certain way and for 90% of the game they did that.
“At half time, we said to them you’re going to get a lot of chances in the second half and when they come, make sure you take them.
"Ffion Price pops up with the three goals. She’s in unbelievable form at the minute and I think that puts her top scorer. But it was a good team performance - there are things we can tidy up, but on the whole I’m proud of the players.
“You have to believe in what you are doing; you have to believe you can outwork your opponents and the chances are going to come and believe you can win. The message at half time was that if you don’t believe we’re going to win, we’ll bring you off now because you have to believe no matter what the scoreline is, and they did that. Credit to the players, they pulled it off.
“We’ve had mixed results of late so we’re just looking to keep ticking over, taking games one at a time, and we’ve got some new ideas we’re trying to implement. The players are taking them on board; there’s going to be moments where we need to show character and resilience, and this was one of them."
