After three consecutive final defeats, Cardiff City can finally call themselves Genero Adran Trophy winners.
A 5-1 win over Swansea City at Penybont’s SDM Glass Stadium meant the Bluebirds broke their hoodoo in the competition, thanks to a magnificent second half display. The feeling of finally winning the illusive trophy was indescribable to many, including Ffion Price.
“It feels amazing to finally win this trophy. I think we thoroughly deserved to win it, and in particular the second half, we showed character to come back from a goal down. Credit to all the girls because they were fantastic today.”
It could have been so different for City, especially in the first half, where they looked a way off their free-flowing, creative selves.
Seren Watkins knew her side weren’t able to kick on, and said the occasion certainly got to the Bluebirds.
“I think we started slow. Maybe the nerves and the pressure of the occasion got to us a little bit, but we’re a very resilient team and we knew we weren’t going to let that dictate the game. We were always going to come back.”
That first half performance for some will hark back memories of last season’s defeat to Cardiff Met. Playing in the same ground as that defeat is certainly enough to test the mental resolve of any player.
Watkins admitted it was tough to get over last year but said the team had learned a lot since then.
“It was really tough to come back from last year. We came into the game with a bit too much confidence and thinking we were going to win it. This year, we knew we couldn’t take anything for granted and we had to work really hard to get a win.”
And how they put those lessons to good use in the second half, as they scored five goals to canter to a big win.
Manager Iain Darbyshire revealed that Swansea had got themselves under the skin of his players but urged his team to up their game in the second half, and they certainly did that.
“The message at half time was to up the intensity, up the physicality, and I think we knew if we did that, we knew we’d have opportunities to score. We made it a bit too easy for Swansea in the first half, and credit to them because they were very aggressive in their pressing.
“They got under our skin a little bit in the first half, but second half, you could see the team that we are. We learned from our mistakes in last year’s final, and you can see the determination from the players, and they were fantastic.”
This ambitious Cardiff City team aren’t content with two trophies, however.
The aim from the beginning of the season was to complete a treble, something that hasn’t been achieved since Cardiff Met did so in 2019.
Captain Siobhan Walsh insisted her, and her teammates would enjoy this win, but focus would shift quickly to Wrexham for the last game of the season.
“We’re obviously going to enjoy this trophy, especially because it has eluded us for so long. We’ll probably have a bit of a break this week, and then full focus will be on that Welsh Cup final against Wrexham. The aim was to win all three trophies this season, and that’s hopefully what we’re going to do.”
The Genero Adran Trophy final came the day after the passing of former Pontypridd United player Kerry Moore.
Price played with Moore when Pontypridd were known as Cyncoed, and she dedicated her performance to her former teammate, who she had written on her wristband for the game.
“Today, I did it for Kezza along with the club. To have her on my wrist today shows just how big an impact she had on me and my footballing career. The least I could do was dedicate my performance to her, and I hope I did her proud.”
