FAW Women's Cup Match Report | Cardiff City 5-0 Pontypridd United

Cardiff City Women continued their defence of the FAW Women’s Cup with a brilliant 5–0 victory over Pontypridd United at Cardiff International Sports Campus.  

In a dominant performance, Rhianne Oakley netted a superb hat-trick, with captain Siobhan Walsh and striker Phoebie Poole also on the scoresheet.

Head coach Iain Darbyshire made four changes to the side that defeated The New Saints last time out, with Emily Roberts, Danielle Green, Danielle Broadhurst and Oakley coming into the starting XI.  

The Bluebirds started brightly and went close to taking the lead just two minutes in, as Oakley raced through, only for her effort at goal to be saved by Maisie Jones. City were rewarded for their fast start, taking the lead in the eighth minute through captain Walsh, who powerfully headed home from Seren Watkins’ pinpoint corner delivery.

Darbyshire’s side immediately pushed for a second goal, with striker Poole driving forward and forcing Jones into a save. In an impressive first-half performance, the Bluebirds doubled the advantage in the 30th minute, as Poole played in Oakley, who finished clinically to add a second.

Wing-back Green posed a real danger on the left, delivering fantastic crosses into the area on numerous occasions, before going close herself, cutting inside and firing an effort at goal, which was saved by Jones.

City continued to create chances after the interval, with Oakley beating the offside trap and racing through once more, but her shot at goal saved by Jones. A brilliant move saw the Bluebirds add a third goal in the 62nd minute, as Green’s low cross into the area was turned home by Oakley.

The City attacker grabbed her hat-trick just two minutes later, as she was found by captain Walsh and struck past Jones to net Darbyshire’s side’s fourth goal of the afternoon. Late in proceedings, City continued to look dangerous in attack, as substitute Eliza Collie fired just over from Ffion Price’s cross. Poole then got herself on the scoresheet, heading home from Price’s corner to add a fifth goal for City.

After a professional performance, the Bluebirds booked their place in the next round. City return to league action next weekend, travelling to Pontypridd United’s USW Sports Park on Sunday, 6 November, 5pm KO.

FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY WOMEN 5–0 PONTYPRIDD UNITED

Cardiff City Women: Roberts, Price, Power, S Walsh ©, Smith, Green, Watkins, Broadhurst (Saunders 67’) (Bowen 71’), Atkins (Billingham 45’), Poole, Oakley (Collie 67’). Subs not used: Chamberlain.

Pontypridd United: Maisie Jones, Greenway, Osborne (Preece-Jones 45’), Broad ©, Bayliss, Day (Trinci 45’), Gunney (Ward 71’), Pervin-Davies (Evans 73’), Witts (Millie Jones 58’), Bufton, Turner.

After the final whistle, head coach Darbyshire spoke to cardiffcityfc.co.uk:

“It’s good to see us go back to what we were doing well at the start of the season,” Iain began. “We’ve had a few tough games against difficult opposition, where we haven’t played as well as we should have and haven’t kept the ball as well as we do in training, but we did that today and I thought we were excellent. The scoreline doesn’t flatter us, because we did really well. We nullified them and could have had a few more goals.

“Last week was a difficult game, credit to TNS, they played well, but the two goals we conceded came from our mistakes. We knew that it’s not how we play week-in, week-out, to make uncharacteristic mistakes. We put that to bed today and I don’t think Emily had to make a save. That’s a credit to our girls and a credit to the whole squad.”

Oakley, who netted a brilliant hat-trick, added: “We’re all buzzing. It’s a great win for us. It’s always a difficult game against Pontypridd, but to come away with five goals and a clean sheet, it’s exactly what we wanted. It’s always good to get a hat-trick, but to get the goals to help the team progress into the next round is a great feeling.”