Reigning Genero Adran Premier champions Wrexham continued their perfect start to the new season with a statement 4-2 victory over Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Mikayla Cook, who joined Wrexham from Cardiff in the summer, returned to the capital to haunt her former club by putting the visitors ahead inside just five minutes with a cool finish from close range after Bella Reidford knocked the ball down from Katie Barker’s cross.
Cardiff were level on 19 minutes as Wrexham failed to fully clear Ffion Price’s delivery, allowing an unmarked Haile Richards to fire the loose ball into the roof of the net and open her account for the club.
Natasha Thomas scored her second goal in as many games with a neat finish from Lydia Sallaway’s perfectly weighted low cross, but the Bluebirds equalised once again before half-time as Mackenzie Olden’s low drive took a wicked deflection off Maria Francis-Jones and crept into the bottom corner.
Thomas nearly bagged herself a brace shortly before the break as her powerful effort crashed off the post. However, Wrexham did not need much time in the second half to restore their lead as last season’s Genero Adran Premier golden boot winner Katie Barker received Lili Jones’ pass on the left hand side and danced past multiple defenders before unleashing a fierce strike into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Wrexham wrapped up an important three points late on as Phoebe Davies delivered a low cross into Evie Sadler, who steered the ball past Daniela Kosinska to bag her first goal for the club. Cardiff’s frustrations grew in stoppage time as Richards was sent off for a second bookable offence following her high challenge on Sallaway.
Abbie Iddenden scored four goals as The New Saints stormed to a 9-1 victory over Barry Town United at Park Hall.
Iddenden, who joined TNS from Wrexham in the summer, scored the quickest hat-trick in Genero Adran Premier history by putting her side 3-0 up inside the opening five minutes. She tucked away the rebound from her own saved effort, scrambled the ball home from close range and fired in another fierce effort.
Lexi Jones tapped in from Lia Lewis’ cross to make it four after just nine minutes, while Lexie Harrison added a fifth goal shortly after the half-hour mark as she clinically slotted past Molly Arnesen at the near post. Fiona Barry got in on the act two minutes later as she netted from Caitlin Chapman’s cross to make it two goals in as many games since joining from Cardiff City.
The visitors did have something to cheer about in the 37th minute as Niamh Duggan intercepted the ball and sent a stunning effort into the net from distance. However, there continued to be no let up from Saints as Jones bagged her brace five minutes later to restore the six-goal cushion.
Chapman was denied by the post moments into the second half, but TNS immediately found their eighth goal as Iddenden’s strike from the edge of the area flew in via the post. Barry’s woes increased late in the day as Olivia Barnett turned the ball into her own net to give TNS their ninth goal of the afternoon and secure the club’s biggest ever top-flight win.
Swansea City also secured back-to-back wins with a narrow 1-0 victory over Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue.
The decisive moment arrived in first half stoppage time as Swansea were awarded a penalty, which was calmly converted by Aimee Deacon to give the visitors a crucial breakthrough.
Genero Adran Premier
The Swans produced a battling performance in the second half to hold onto their lead, take home all three points and keep their first clean sheet away from home in over a year.
Cardiff Met earned their first point since promotion back to the top-flight as they played out a 1-1 draw with Briton Ferry Llansawel at The Renewable Centre Stadium.
Ferry had the chance to take the lead in the 26th minute when Lucy Powell stood over a penalty, but Met goalkeeper Violet Bell guessed correctly to turn the ball round the post.
The Reds did find the opening goal four minutes later though, as Jade Crofts met Laura-May Walkley-Witts’ cutback and scored from close range. Lowri Ridings nearly doubled Ferry’s advantage shortly before half time, but her hooked effort struck the crossbar.
Met equalised with 59 minutes on the clock thanks to Carys Gittins, and the Archers were able to hold on to claim a point on the road despite Ferry applying late pressure, with Ridings being denied by the woodwork twice more.
Genero Adran Premier results
Aberystwyth Town 0-1 Swansea City
Briton Ferry Llansawel 1-1 Cardiff Met
The New Saints 9-1 Barry Town United
Cardiff City 2-4 Wrexham
