Adran Premier Report | Cardiff City 1-0 Aberystwyth Town
Cardiff City continued their winning start to the Adran Premier campaign with a 1–0 victory over Aberystwyth Town at Cardiff International Sports Campus on Sunday, October 16th, 2022.
Rhianne Oakley’s first-half strike, along with the Bluebirds’ sixth clean sheet in as many games, secured all three points.
Head coach Iain Darbyshire made six changes to the side that defeated Cascade last time out, with Ceryn Chamberlain, Siobhan Walsh, Ffion Price, Seren Watkins, Danielle Broadhurst and Oakley all coming into the starting XI.
In a competitive opening, Bluebirds attacker Oakley posed a real threat, driving forward and feeding Megan Saunders, who was denied by goalkeeper Elen Valentine, as she searched for her second goal in as many games. Oakley was rewarded for her bright start, opening the scoring in the 22nd minute, racing through and finishing clinically to give City the lead.
The Bluebirds immediately searched for a second goal and went close through more great work from Oakley, who delivered low into the box for Danielle Green, whose effort sailed just over the woodwork. As City continued to push forward, a free-kick in a dangerous position saw Broadhurst’s powerful strike blocked by the wall.
Shortly before the break, Darbyshire’s side went close again, as Saunders’ ball across the box found Green, who struck a well-caught volley towards goal, which was cleared off the line. City then hit the woodwork, with a trademark Price delivery finding Zoe Atkins, with her header cannoning off the bar. After a positive opening period, the Bluebirds went into the interval with a 1-0 lead.
City started the second period on the front foot and went close to a second goal through Broadhurst, who struck a great effort from distance onto the woodwork. In another chance, the midfielder was inches away from doubling the Bluebirds lead, as she headed powerfully towards goal, forcing Valentine to tip onto the bar.
The visitors looked to hit the Bluebirds on the counter-attack, but faced a City defence who are yet to concede a goal this season, providing a fantastic platform for Darbyshire’s side to earn results.
In the final proceedings, substitute Phoebie Poole went close to adding a second, as she met a fantastic delivery from Green, but headed narrowly wide. In another chance, Price tried her luck from distance with a great strike, which sailed just over the woodwork. The Bluebirds comfortably held out, to secure a fifth straight win and clean sheet.
City return to action next weekend, welcoming The New Saints to Cardiff International Sports Campus on Sunday, 23 October, 2pm KO.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1–0 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Price, Power, S Walsh ©, Bowen, Green, Watkins, Atkins, Broadhurst, Saunders (Poole 70’), Oakley. Subs not used: Roberts, Smith, Hughes, Major.
Aberystwyth Town: Valentine, Gwilt, Mathias, Roberts (Wylde 70’), E Jones, K Thomas ©, E Thomas, Chambers, Evans, G Jones (Davies 55’), Pusey (Isaac 55’). Subs not used: Jenkins.
After the final whistle, head coach Iain Darbyshire spoke to cardiffcityfc.co.uk.
“It was a really tough game,” Iain began. “Fair play to Aberystwyth, they made it very difficult for us, as we expected. We made a lot of chances, didn’t take all of them, but took one to get the goal and that’s what’s important.”
Commenting on the Bluebirds’ fantastic defensive record so far this season, Iain added: “We’ve been brilliant defensively so far this year. When you have such a strong backline that aren’t conceding any goals, it gives you such a big platform to get a result and they’ve done it again today.”
Goalkeeper Ceryn Chamberlain, who is yet to concede a goal this campaign, said: “It was a tough game, we had to dig in and make sure that we saw the game out with a clean sheet. We’re doing really well so far this season, we’ve got great momentum and we’re building on that every week in training and in games. It’s just about concentrating on each game as it comes and doing the job in front of us.”
