Adran Trophy Report | Cardiff City 4-0 Aberystwyth Town
Cardiff City Women booked their place in the Final of the Adran Trophy with a 4-0 victory over Aberystwyth Town at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
Defender Megan Bowen opened the scoring for the Bluebirds, before wing-back Ffion Price netted a brilliant hat-trick.
Head coach Iain Darbyshire made three changes to the side that faced Swansea City last time out, with Kelly Adams, Rhianne Oakley and Mikayla Cook coming into the starting XI.
City made the perfect start, taking the lead with nine minutes on the clock. Some good work on the right from Oakley led to a corner, which Price delivered. Centre-back Bowen brilliantly met the cross with a powerful header to open the scoring.
The Bluebirds continued their impressive first-half performance and controlled possession. Darbyshire’s side were clinical when chances arose, doubling the lead in the 34th minute. Hannah Power crossed into the area from the right, leading to Price firing an outstanding first-time finish into the net.
There was almost a third goal before the break, as the ball fell kindly for Price, whose dangerous effort at goal was saved by goalkeeper Margot Farnes. After a professional display, City went into the interval with a two-goal lead.
The Bluebirds made a fast start to the second half, as some more positive play from Oakley on the right led to Kerry Walklett and Olivia Basham both going close from inside the area. Substitute Seren Watkins was next to threaten, as her dangerous strike towards goal forced another save from Farnes.
City weren’t denied a third goal however, as it came in the 75th minute. The ball came out to Price, who struck another fine effort into the net to double her tally for the afternoon. The wing-back then competed a brilliant hat-trick with another impressive strike to seal the victory for the Bluebirds.
Darbyshire's side are in action next Sunday, facing Swansea City in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup Semi-Final at the SDM Glass Stadium, Bridgend.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 4-0 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Owen, Bowen, S Walsh © (Smith 77’), Power, Price, Adams (Watkins 46’), Walklett, Oakley (Kehoe 61’), Cook, Basham (Collie 61’). Subs not used: Phelps.
Aberystwyth Town: Farnes, R Mathias, B Roberts, E Jones (G Jones 72’), Duggan, Isaac, Evans (Wylde 80’), Moralee-Hughes, Scourfield, Jenkins © (F Jenkins 65’), L Mathias. Subs not used: Steele, Mawle.
After the full-time whistle, we caught up with head coach Darbyshire.
"I was really happy with the performance," Iain began. "The players really took on board what we tried to tweak from our last game and I think we did that really well. It was difficult conditions with the weather, but we played good football at times and were dominant throughout. We'll look forward to the Final now.
"We've been missing a lot of players recently and the break came at a good time for us. We're in a position now where those players are coming back. They've looked really sharp in training and they have a point to prove now, which is great. Credit to the players who stepped in during that time, because Olivia Basham, Mikayla Cook, I can name so many players, they've been brilliant. We're really proud of them.
"Ffion was outstanding today. We've tweaked her position a little bit and told her that she can come inside and get shots off. She did that today and all three goals were unbelievable. She can be so proud of herself. As a childhood Cardiff City fan, to get a hat-trick for the Club is fantastic."