Match Report: Abergavenny Women 1-2 Cardiff City FC Women (AET)
Cardiff City FC Women defeated Abergavenny Women 2-1 at Pen-Y-Pound Stadium in the Quarter-Final of the WPWL League Cup after extra-time.
The result meant that City progressed to the Semi-Final of the WPWL League Cup and will face either Cardiff Met, Rhyl or Swansea City.
Danielle Broadhurst broke the deadlock after 32 minutes by producing a stunning strike from the outside right of the area. Then after the interval, it took the hosts 17 minutes to find an equaliser through Laura Davies’ free-kick and that was the final goal of normal time. Extra-time began and Broadhurst hammered home a wonderful volley, just eight minutes in, to secure a brace and seal City’s victory.
Joel Hutton made two changes to the side that faced Abergavenny last time out, with Ceryn Chamberlain starting in goal and Emily Griffiths making her debut at left-back.
The encounter began slowly and the first opportunity went the way of the Pennies after 16 minutes, when Chamberlain kept out Lyndsey Davies at close range. Then the affair began to heat-up and down the other end, six minutes later, Kelly Bourne shot over from just outside the area.
Chamberlain was called into action again on the 25 minute mark, when Kate Jeremiah went one-on-one at a narrow angle and the 19-year-old made sure to save. Jeremiah had another dig from inside the area, four minutes later and the attempt was again kept out by the resilient Chamberlain.
Catherine Walsh came close after 31 minutes, as her curling effort from just inside the box was gathered by Charlotte Hastings. Then one minute later, City broke the deadlock through Broadhurst’s stunner. Mollie Jones cut-back for the midfielder on the edge of the area, who took one touch, before utilising her right foot to rifle the ball into the back of the net.
The Bluebirds had the momentum and Alana Murphy had a number of opportunities to add another before the break. On 38 minutes, the 21-year-old’s ambitious shot from range was gathered by Hastings and then three minutes later, the forward rounded the goalkeeper before her attempt at an acute angle was cleared off the line. On the stroke of half-time, Murphy paced forward inside the area and her effort across goal travelled agonisingly astray of the left upright.
After the interval, it took the hosts 17 minutes to equalise and it was through Laura Davies’ sweetly struck free-kick from just outside the area. With 20 minutes of the 90 remaining, Chamberlain produced some superb goalkeeping to deny Jeremiah in a one-on-one situation – the 19-year-old coming off her line and diving low to save. Then two minutes later, Walsh had another dig on target from just inside the area, however the goalkeeper gathered.
The Bluebirds regained their lead in extra time as Broadhurst struck once again. Murphy’s corner was cleared as far as the 26-year-old, who sped towards the edge of the area and volleyed so powerfully that her finish broke the netting.
After the brief interval, opportunities became a rarity as City stood resilient in defence and the Pennies came closest when Lyndsey Davies skied from the edge of the area with four minutes of extra-time remaining. That was the concluding opportunity of the game and City secured back-to-back victories away to Abergavenny, progressing to the Semi-Final of the WPWL League Cup.
FINAL SCORE: ABERGAVENNY WOMEN 1-2 CARDIFF CITY FC WOMEN (AET)
Abergavenny Women: Hastings, Powell, Jones (David 103’), Adams, Summers, Hudson, Bull, Laura Davies, Lyndsey Davies, Jeremiah, Cook (Atkins 113’). Subs not used: Lane, Owen, Hughes.
Cardiff City FC Women: Chamberlain, Jones, Griffiths, Connolly (May 75’), Daley, S. Walsh (Owen 46’), Bourne (Green 64’), C. Walsh, Underdown, Murphy (Legall 109’), Broadhurst. Subs not used: Skinner.
