The New Saints secured their place in the Genero Adran Championship Conference in dramatic fashion with a late fourth goal tipping the balance.
Genero Adran Premier
Midweek: Swansea City 5-2 The New Saints
Abergavenny 1-0 Pontypridd United
Sunday 5 February: The New Saints 4-0 Abergavenny
Swansea City’s 5-2 midweek defeat of The New Saints featured a couple of goals for Katy Hosford, the result leaving the door open for Pontypridd to claim fourth with either a draw or a win. However, Ponty stumbled at this hurdle with Abergavenny celebrating their first Genero Adran Premier victory of the campaign. Alana Murphy netted very early on and in the 26th minute United’s Alison Witts was shown a red card following an off the ball incident.
TNS beat Abergavenny 4-0, Lucie Platt opening the scoring following a free kick and Helen Evans adding a second before half time. Isobel Redding headed in a Caitlin Chapman corner and Emily Ridge got the crucial fourth goal two minutes from time. This edged Saints into fourth place, with an identical record to Pontypridd but having scored more goals.
The goal worth a spot in the top half 💫#GeneroAdranPremier pic.twitter.com/VY3f3gNsiq
— Genero Adran Leagues (@AdranLeagues) February 5, 2023
TNS now join Cardiff City Women, Swansea City and Cardiff Met in the Championship Conference, fighting for the league title and place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Pontypridd finish fifth and will be hoping to repeat last year’s success of winning the Genero Adran Premier Plate, whilst battling against relegation with Aberystwyth Town, Barry Town United and Abergavenny.
The Genero Adran Premier now takes a short break ahead of the start of Phase 2 on 26 February – the new fixtures will be announced at 10am on Tuesday. Meanwhile next weekend is the Genero Adran Trophy semi-finals, with Cardiff Met hosting Aberystwyth Town and Cardiff City taking on TNS. The winners will face off a month later on 12 March to take the first silverware of the season.
Adran North
Llandudno 0-5 Wrexham
Llanfair United 2-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Rhyl 4-3 Airbus UK Broughton
Leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads had a hard-fought victory at Llanfair. Kirstie Kural’s second half penalty decided it, after United were pegged back twice in the first half.
Wrexham put five past Llandudno, Rosie Hughes netting an eight-minute hat-trick.
Airbus were set to get off the mark with a draw after substitute Charlotte Dykes struck a late double, until Rhyl scored a stoppage-time winner through a sub of their own, Chelsea Evans.
Adran South
Caldicot Town 1-1 Swansea University
Briton Ferry Llansawel 4-0 Pontardawe Town
Briton Ferry moved five points clear with four goals put past Pontardawe, Lowri Ridings twice on target.
