City retained the FAW Women’s Cup with a fantastic 4-0 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel on Sunday afternoon.
Striker Eliza Collie opened the scoring for the Bluebirds, before Catherine Walsh doubled the advantage.
Ffion Price’s corner found the net just before the break, while Rhianne Oakley added a fourth late-on.
Boss Iain Darbyshire made three changes to the side that defeated Swansea City last time out, with Megan Bowen, Zoe Atkins and Walsh coming into the starting XI.
The Bluebirds started brightly, as Price forced Courtney Young into a save with a well-placed free-kick. Striker Collie was posing a threat with clever runs in-behind, getting into dangerous positions on numerous occasions. Her strike-partner, Walsh, was next to go close, heading just wide from Price’s cross.
City broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, as Collie beat Young to the ball and fired the Bluebirds into the lead. Just three minutes later, an accurate cross from Bowen was turned home by Walsh, who doubled City’s advantage.
Darbyshire’s side went close to adding a swift third, with Atkins and Siobhan Walsh both forcing Young into brilliant saves. The Bluebirds weren’t denied a third goal before the break, with Price’s corner finding its way into the net.
On the hour-mark, striker Collie almost netted a second, finding space in the box, before being denied by another fine save from Young. With Phoebie Poole introduced in the second-half, the attacker tried her luck from distance, firing just over.
City added a fourth goal in the 89th minute with some brilliant build-up play. Midfielder Manon Pearce found Mikayla Cook in space on the left, whose fantastic delivery was turned in at the back post by Oakley.
After winning the FAW Women’s Cup for a second consecutive year, the Bluebirds finish a remarkable campaign with two trophies, having also been crowned Adran Premier champions.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 4-0 BRITON FERRY LLANSAWEL
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Price, Power, S Walsh ©, Bowen (Owen 68’), Green (Cook 78’), Pearce, Broadhurst, Atkins (Oakley 60’), Collie (Poole 60’), C Walsh. Subs not used: Hawkins.
Briton Ferry Llansawel: Young, Broadley (Denscombe 78’), Jenkins, Llewellyn, Ridings, Jones (Thomas 78’), Kearle, Deacon (Roberts 53’), Smitham (Baker 62’), Clayton, Howells (Powell 53’).
Commenting on a fine performance, boss Darbyshire said: “It feels great. We set our targets at the start of the season and we knew we had a chance in every competition. To win two trophies, it feels so good and it’s what the Club deserves because it’s going in the right direction.
“Credit to Briton Ferry, they played really well today and should be really proud of themselves. We knew they were going to be difficult to play against. They cut the spaces off really well, we didn’t really get in between the lines as much as we should have. Then, the game opened up a bit and we showed our quality.”
Catherine Walsh, who was named Player of the Match added: “We’ve had a fantastic season and this just tops it off. It wasn’t easy. Credit to Briton Ferry, they gave us a torrid time for 90 minutes. They pushed us all the way but credit to the team, we got the job done.
“I’ve been out for a long time through injury, so I was buzzing to just be on the pitch, but to score a goal is even better. The girls have been fantastic all year and I’m happy I’ve been able to play a part.”
