Cardiff Met 1-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads (4-2 on penalties)
- Genero Adran Leagues Promotion Play-Off
- Sunday 26 April, 14:30
- Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Cardiff Met secured promotion to the Genero Adran Premier in dramatic style as they defeated Connah’s Quay Nomads on penalties in the Play-Off at Park Avenue.
The Archers were trailing 1-0 for the majority of the contest after Hannah Slack opened the scoring for the Nomads, but Faith Mulenga scored a stunning late equaliser to send the tie to a shootout. Met goalkeeper Violet Bell was the hero as she saved two spot-kicks to help her side to victory.
Both sides found joy through balls over the top in the early stages, while Nomads defender Tia Lockley made a superb last-ditch tackle to stop Molly Chapman when the Met forward was through on goal.
It was the Nomads, perhaps utilising their experience in the Play-Off last year, who settled into the occasion stronger and they took the lead in the 21st minute when Hannah Slack stole the ball off the Met defence and coolly slotted home past Violet Bell.
Slack almost doubled the advantage soon after when she won a ball over the top, but poked just wide – meaning that the Nomads’ advantage stood as a solitary goal at half-time.
Jordan Parry’s side continued to be the stronger side after the break, but could not double their advantage as Bell was equal to efforts from Mel Barlow and Slack.
There would be late heartbreak for the second year in a row for the Nomads, as Met, who had struggled for clear cut chances throughout the contest, found an equaliser with one minute of the 90 remaining. Full-back Faith Mulenga picked the ball up on the left wing and sent a remarkable effort looping over Nomads goalkeeper Ruby Stevens to spark wild scenes of celebration among the Archers.
The Nomads took the lead in the penalty shootout as Met’s Esme Kilburn-Thompson blazed over before Mel Barlow scored, but it was all square after two efforts each as Mulenga scored and Bell then denied Phoebe Ellis.
Anna Houghton and Kennesha Nanette scored for Met either side of Megan Galeandro’s perfect penalty for Nomads, but Bell then saved again to keep out Alisha Whitehead-Hughes’ effort. It gave Met captain Olivia Barnes the chance to step up and secure promotion for her side and she duly did so.
It is an immediate return to the Genero Adran Premier for Cardiff Met after they suffered relegation from the top-flight for the first time in their history last season. For Connah’s Quay, it is more Play-Off agony at the end of another unbeaten league campaign.
