City Women were crowned champions of the Adran Premier on Sunday afternoon as they defeated The New Saints 3-1.
Three second half goals from Eliza Collie, Mackenzie Olden and Fiona Barry secured the title for the Bluebirds.
The first chance of the game fell to City defender Shannon Evans, who struck just wide from distance. With just over ten minutes played, the Bluebirds were awarded a penalty when Olden was brought down inside the box. Ffion Price’s penalty was kept out by Mackenzie Haydn-Jones in The New Saints' goal.
The visitors' first chance came with around 20 minutes played. Molly Harvard’s cross found an outstretched Chantelle Teare, but her effort went wide of the target. It was an uneventful end to the first half as both sides struggled to create any clear chances and went into the break level.
The second half began strongly for City, who took the lead only two minutes after the restart. Molly Kehoe played a brilliant ball in behind, which found Collie, who made no mistake, smashing the ball into the back of the net.
Kehoe almost doubled City’s lead instantly as she worked the ball well to create space for herself and let fly from distance. However, her effort flew just over the bar.
The Bluebirds' fast start to the half was rewarded again as they doubled their lead only four minutes after grabbing the opener. Lily Billingham found Olden, who produced a stunning effort, which left Saints keeper Haydn-Jones completely flat footed.
City kept pushing for their third. Olden was denied by a diving save from Haydn-Jones. Kerry Walklett and Price then produced some good link up play, with the latter having a go from outside the box. Her effort deflected goalwards but into the arms of Haydn-Jones.
The New Saints pulled a goal back with just under 10 minutes to go, as Caitlin Chapman’s corner was headed home by Mia Davies.
Despite that, City made sure they were crowned champions with three minutes to go. Substitute Barry produced an amazing run, where she drove into the box and fired back across goal, finding the far corner, making it 3-1.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 3-1 THE NEW SAINTS
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Long (G.Evans 80’), Bowen, Jenkins, Evans, Price (Baker-Perry 90’), Walklett, Kehoe, Billingham, Collie (Barry 71’), Olden (Curnock 71’). Subs Not Used: Olsen.
The New Saints: Haydn-Jones, Baker, Davies, Webb, Dunkerley, Francis-Jones (S.Jones 88’), Lewis, Evans, Edge (Jones 45’), Teare, Harvard (Chapman 71’). Subs Not Used: Bowen, Phillips.