31 January 2022 |

Three teams progress to Genero Adran Trophy semi-finals

2022-01-16 Cardiff Met v Llandudno Ladies -200.jpg

It was a dramatic weekend in the Genero Adran Trophy, with three sides booking their place in the semi-finals.

The top two in the Genero Adran Premier - Swansea City and Cardiff Met - met in a huge clash at Cyncoed Campus.

The mouth-watering fixture didn’t disappoint, with Met taking the lead just before half time through Emily Allen’s penalty.

But the Swans showed their quality and replied instantly just a minute later, with Chloe Chivers finding the net for Chris Church's side.

As the entertaining contest went all the way, a hero emerged in the penalty shootout in the form of Archers goalkeeper Annabel Sweeney.

The American shot-stopper denied Kelly Adams and Laura Davies, allowing captain Stephanie Turner to step up and net the winning spot-kick.

It was a similar story at Pen-Y-Pound Stadium, as Abergavenny’s battle with Aberystwyth Town went to the wire.

The two sides pushed to progress in normal time, but the deadlock couldn’t be broken, with a penalty shootout again needed to decide the winner.

Seasiders goalkeeper Ffion Ashman, as she has done throughout the season, impressed between the sticks, as she saved Mali Summers and Maxine Mudge’s penalties, leading to Caroline Cooper securing the victory for the Genero Adran Premier side.

Cardiff City had the difficult test of facing a young, exciting Barry Town United side who had aspirations of making history with silverware this season.

But the Bluebirds stepped up to the task admirably by recording an impressive 4-1 victory.

Having created early chances, City found a breakthrough with Emily Bayliss crossing excellently for Megan Saunders to head home.

Iain Darbyshire’s side, who despite being without usual set-piece taker Ffion Price, were dangerous from corners throughout the afternoon, with midfielder Seren Watkins stepping up to deliver.

Captain Siobhan Walsh rose highest to double the Bluebirds’ lead, before Catherine Walsh headed home after the break.

In Price’s absence, left-back Bayliss put in a fine display, crossing accurately once more for Zoe Atkins to net her second header in a week.

Substitute Anna Houghton pulled a goal back for the Linnets, but it wasn’t enough to get back into the contest as the Bluebirds sealed their place in the last four.