Newly crowned Genero Adran Premier champions Wrexham concluded the season with a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City, before lifting the trophy in front of a record crowd at The Rock.
Swansea made the dream start as Ellie Lake opened the scoring after just six minutes in north Wales as she took on Hannah Snape and saw her cross-turned-shot fly over Liz Craven and into the net.
Swansea forward Stacey John, who was making her final career appearance, thought she had doubled her side’s lead with a composed finish when running onto Aimee Deacon’s through ball, only to see the goal ruled out for offside.
However, the Swans did grab their second goal on the stroke of half time as teenager Deacon met Chloe Chivers’ low cross and scooped her effort over Craven and into the far corner.
The division’s golden boot winner Katie Barker scored her 25th league goal of the season to pull one back for Wrexham by running onto Snape’s lofted pass, rounding the outrushing Amelia Forkings and finding the net via the post from a tight angle.
Barker went close to bringing the champions level on two occasions as she forced Forkings into a crucial one-on-one save before her deflected strike from close range flew an inch wide of the post.
It meant that Swansea held on to become the only team to win away at Wrexham this season, while ending their four-match losing streak ahead of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final against Cardiff City in a fortnight.
Iain Darbyshire marked his final match in charge of Cardiff City with a 1-1 draw against The New Saints at the CIS Stadium.
Saints threatened for the majority of the first half, but it was Cardiff who took the lead on 34 minutes as Madison Lloyd met Amy Long’s cross to turn the ball home from close range.
However, the visitors eventually made their pressure count to equalise in the 71st minute as Chantelle Teare latched onto Kelsey Richardson’s pass, rounded Ceryn Chamberlain and slotted in her eighth goal of the season.
Mikayla Cook nearly gave legendary manager Darbyshire the perfect send-off late in the day, but her first-time strike crashed against the post.
Carys Bufton scored a hat-trick as Aberystwyth Town concluded their season with a thrilling 4-3 win over Barry Town United at Park Avenue.
Bufton put Aberystwyth ahead inside just three minutes by slotting home after Barry failed to deal with a long ball, but the visitors were immediately level thanks to Beca Thomas, who finished off a well-worked move.
Sienna Stone tucked away the rebound from Thomas’ saved shot to put Barry in front before a stunning strike from Bufton made it two apiece at the interval.
The Linnets took the lead again through Keira Harris, but a late collapse allowed Aberystwyth to complete a dramatic turnaround. Libby Isaac turned home Bufton’s set-piece delivery before a foul from India Shanahan inside the area resulted in a straight red card for the Barry forward and a penalty for Aberystwyth, which Bufton converted to complete her hat-trick and secure all three points.
Briton Ferry Llansawel claimed their biggest win of the league campaign with a 5-1 victory over already-relegated Pontypridd United at USW Sports Park.
Lucy Powell produced a moment of magic to put Ferry ahead in the 10th minute as the midfielder stood over a free-kick and curled her effort into the far corner. Jess Denscombe was denied by the crossbar moments later, but Ferry did not have to wait long for their second goal as Jade Crofts steered the ball home from Laura-May Walkley-Witts’ cross.
Maia Owen rounded off an impressive 23 minute spell from the visitors as she headed in at the near post from Alice Broadley’s cross. Lowri Ridings almost added a fourth first half goal, but her header from Powell’s corner bounced off the crossbar.
Genero Adran Premier
Megan Kearle added her name to the scoresheet by rounding Pontypridd goalkeeper Anna Phelps and slotting home before the home side grabbed a consolation through 17-year-old Gwenllian Crane, who scored her first ever senior goal.
Ferry restored their four-goal cushion late on though, as Ridings met Georgia Howell’s cross and headed past Phelps. Crofts was next to hit the crossbar for the Reds as her powerful strike rattled the woodwork. Ferry finish four points clear at the top of the Plate Conference, while Pontypridd are relegated to the second tier having failed to earn a single point.
Genero Adran Premier results
Wrexham 1-2 Swansea City
Aberystwyth Town 4-3 Barry Town United
Cardiff City 1-1 The New Saints
Pontypridd United 1-5 Briton Ferry Llansawel
