City Women secure Adran Trophy glory
The Bluebirds claimed the Adran Trophy for the first time in the Club’s history with a brilliant 5-1 victory over Swansea City.
A sublime second half performance saw Megan Bowen, Molly Kehoe and Rhianne Oakley score, before Eliza Collie netted a late brace.
Head coach Iain Darbyshire named an unchanged starting XI following our 5-1 win over Wrexham at Cardiff City Stadium last week.
The Bluebirds started brightly and forced an early chance, as Ffion Price found fellow wing-back Mikayla Cook on the left, whose low cross into the area deflected into the post. In another chance, winger Oakley raced through and rounded goalkeeper Chelsea Herbert, but couldn’t quite apply an accurate finish.
In the 19th minute, the Swans took the lead through Monet Legall, who found the net from distance. City reacted well, as Oakley again found space, this time crossing for Collie, whose close-range flick was just wide. Despite the Bluebirds’ search for an equaliser in the opening period, it was Chris Church’s side who lead at the interval.
At the start of the second half, the Bluebirds went close twice, as Emma Beynon and Price both struck just over the woodwork with powerful efforts from the edge of the area. City found the leveller in the 55th minute, as substitute Bowen made a great impact off the bench by heading home Seren Watkins’ corner.
The Bluebirds immediately pushed for a second goal, with Kehoe firing from the edge of the area, forcing Herbert into another save. A key moment came in the 72nd minute, with Kehoe again involved. A loose ball in the box was pounced upon by the Cayman Islands international, who slammed into an empty net.
With ten minutes left, City gained a two-goal cushion through Oakley, as she broke into the box and calmly finished past Herbert. In a late flourish for Darbyshire’s side, striker Collie netted a fine brace, turning home from close-range, before a powerful strike in added time.
The Bluebirds’ last game of the campaign is the Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final against Wrexham at Rodney Parade on May 5th, 5:25pm KO.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 5-1 SWANSEA CITY
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Price, Power, S Walsh ©, Smith (Bowen 46’), Cook (Adams 82’), Watkins, Beynon, Kehoe (Owen 75’), Collie, Oakley (Basham 90+6’). Subs not used: Phelps.
Swansea City: Herbert, Lake ©, J Williams, Turner (R Williams 89’), Pinder, Cullen, Wynne (K Thomas 80’), Hancocks, Legall, E Thomas, Chivers (Harris 74’). Subs not used: Skinner, Brace.