Cardiff City FC Women recorded an impressive 5-1 victory over Abergavenny Women FC, with Kate Jeremiah and Catherine Walsh both claiming braces in the triumph, as Danielle Broadhurst also netted for the Bluebirds at Cardiff International Sports Campus on Sunday, December 1st, 2019.
The hosts would start their first match in December strongly, with Catherine Walsh going close after just seven minutes, only for Abergavenny Women ‘keeper Charlotte Hastings to showcase some early heroics to keep her side level under immense pressure.
Siobhan Walsh missed out on an opportunity just five minutes later, firing over the bar from close-range – but despite the disappointment, one could sense a goal was coming for Iain Darbyshire’s side.
Eventually, City would get exactly what they deserved, as Kate Jeremiah netted the opener with fifteen minutes played. City’s number seven made an incisive run down the left flank, before confidently firing into the bottom-left corner on her right foot from close range.
Number nine Alana Murphy returned to the starting line-up and was a constant nuisance throughout with her tenacious running causing the opposition backline a plethora of issues. Murphy went close in both the 19th and 25th minute, as she was denied by Hastings on the first occasion, before firing wide on the second.
Throughout the first half, Cardiff City looked good value to set a second on the merits of their performance, however it would be the visitors who would hand City a disappointing blow on the stroke of half time. City ‘keeper Amelia Forkins made what seemed to be a crucial stop in the 43rd minute, only to be picking the ball out of the net with the last kick of the half.
Ffion David provided an in-swinging delivery into the City box from a corner, and it would eventually nestle into the back of the net following a hectic goalmouth scramble in which the ball was eventually knocked into the back of the net to level the scores at half-time.
Despite the setback, the positive mentality of this City side was clear for all to see, as they would regain their lead after just seven minutes within the restart. Danielle Broadhurst would produce a fine curling effort on her right-foot, which found the net in the 52nd minute to restore City’s lead.
Forward Catherine Walsh strived to extend City’s lead, attempting to test Hastings with a number of long-range efforts. Walsh would hit the crossbar from 35-yards-out with an unbelievable effort, which seemed more than deserving of a goal. It didn’t matter though, as she netted City’s third in the 65th minute from a similar position, receiving a huge embrace from her teammates – knowing it would be a crucial goal in the match.
Just two minutes later, Walsh scored her second of the match, heading home from Lisa Owen’s superb cross on the right to give the Bluebirds a three-goal advantage against Abergavenny. It would also be Walsh’s sixth goal of the season, seemingly putting the game out of sight for the visitors.
Kate Jeremiah scored City’s fifth of the game in the 69th minute, and her thirteenth goal of the 2019/20 campaign to round off a five-star performance at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
It was very nearly six for the Bluebirds, but Lisa Owen’s effort in the 84th minute was ruled out for offside. Cardiff City would continue to be resolute defensively, seeing out the remaining minutes of the game with professionalism and determination in order to claim their place in the Semi-Finals of the WPWL Cup.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY FC WOMEN 5-1 ABERGAVENNY WOMEN
Cardiff City: Forkins, Owen, Hillard, S. Walsh (C), Jeremiah (Gibbs 74’), Underdown, Murphy, Broadhurst, Cartwright (Connolly 74’), C. Walsh, Pinchard (Atkins 65’). Subs not used: Chamberlain, Norman, Connolly, Atkins, Gibbs.
Abergavenny: Hastings, Jones, Scrivens, Summers, Hudson, Atkins, Bull, Davies, Davies, Russell, David. Subs: Bufton, Daniels.