Fiona Barry scored a stoppage time winner for the second week running as The New Saints moved three points clear at the top of the Genero Adran Premier with a dramatic 3-2 win over Wrexham at The Rock on Sunday
Saints were gifted the lead in the 18th minute as a heavy touch from Lydia Sallaway allowed Barry to latch onto the loose ball and lob Lucy Farrell from distance, with the Wrexham goalkeeper unable to track back in time to stop the effort reaching the bottom corner. The visitors doubled their advantage 12 minutes into the second half as Caitlin Chapman spun away from Sarah Harvey, sprinted down the left hand side and delivered a low cross towards the back post, where Lexie Harrison was in the right place, at the right time to tap home.
Wrexham captain Jodie Bartle scored her first Genero Adran Premier goal since November last year to set up an interesting finish as she planted her header into the bottom corner from Faye Knox’s free-kick.
Jenny Sugarman’s side thought they had salvaged a point in the second minute of stoppage time when Maria Francis-Jones’ deflected free-kick fell onto Natasha Thomas, who sent a looping header over Mackenzie Haydn-Jones for her seventh goal of the campaign already.
However, there was another late twist to the tale as Barry received a short pass from Lia Lewis, set her sights on goal and sent another dipping effort from outside the area over Farrell to spark wild celebrations for Kieran Lee-Birch’s side, who maintained their perfect record in the most dramatic way.
Maizie Stiens and Freya Peyton scored hat-tricks as Briton Ferry Llansawel stormed to a 7-1 win over Aberystwyth Town at The Renewable Centre Stadium.
15-year-old talent Stiens put Ferry ahead early on as she met Olivia Kett-White’s throw, skipped past her marker and fired clinically into the bottom corner. The teenage sensation then doubled her and Ferry’s tally moments later as she sent a curling effort with her weaker foot into the top corner.
Amy Jenkins halved the deficit for Aberystwyth with a powerful low drive from Carys Bufton’s lay-off, but Ferry immediately restored their two-goal cushion as Katy Hosford’s free-kick from distance looped over Megan Bowen and into the net via the underside of the crossbar. Stiens then completed her perfect first half hat-trick five minutes before the break as she met Anya Welch’s clipped pass and guided her header beyond Bowen.
Stiens stole the show in the first half, and it was soon time for her fellow striker Peyton to join the scoring fun as the substitute found the net just two minutes after coming off the bench with a neat first-time finish into the roof of the net moments before she received a through ball from Laura-May Walkley-Witts, cut inside and slotted home at the near post.
Peyton then watched her curling effort from the right crash onto the post, but the 16-year-old completed her hat-trick in the fifth minute of stoppage time as she met another pass from Walkley-Witts and held off challenges from Libby Isaac and Mali Yim-Jones before sending a fierce strike into the top corner, leaving Bowen no chance of the save. Ferry’s largest ever Genero Adran Premier win also sealed a first home victory this season for Mark Murison’s side, who remain fifth in the table.
Cardiff City came from behind to claim their third consecutive win in a 7-1 triumph over Cardiff Met at the CIS Stadium.
Met took a shock lead through teenager Lily Moralee-Hughes in the 20th minute, but the hosts found a quick reply as Lily Billingham fired past Violet Bell before Mackenzie Olden completed the first half turnaround as she was left free in the area and produced a neat finish.
Irish forward Gillian Keenan put the Bluebirds firmly in control after the restart as she finished off two well-worked goals to make it 4-1 shortly past the hour mark. Kate Oakley scored her first ever Genero Adran Premier goal in style as she cut inside and curled into the far corner just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Oakley and Olden added the sixth and seventh goals in the closing stages as both attackers joined Keenan in bagging a brace to give Noah Bushby’s side a convincing win.
Swansea City put their heartbreaking defeat to The New Saints from last weekend behind them as Aimee Deacon’s brace inspired a 4-0 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park.
Chloe Chivers got Swansea up and running for the afternoon with one of her trademark long range efforts inside just six minutes before the striker doubled the lead seven minutes prior to half time with her fifth goal of the season.
Barry put the ball in the net early in the second half, but Jemima Lister was deemed offside when applying the finish, meaning the goal was ruled out.
Deacon added a third goal for the Swans near the hour mark to all but confirm victory for the visitors before she calmly converted from the penalty spot six minutes later following Amelia Herbert’s foul inside the area, which also resulted in a second yellow card for the Barry defender. The Swans move level on points with second-place Wrexham, while Barry are still rooted at the bottom of the table after conceding 28 goals in their first five games.
Genero Adran Premier results:
Barry Town United 0-4 Swansea City
Briton Ferry Llansawel 7-1 Aberystwyth Town
Cardiff City 7-1 Cardiff Met
Wrexham 2-3 The New Saints
