The Bluebirds earned their first away victory of the league campaign with a comprehensive win over Barry Town United on Sunday afternoon.
Three first half goals put the visitors in good stead at the break, before City added another two that went unanswered after the interval.
The hosts began on the front foot at Jenner Park, as they nearly found a sought-after early opener thanks to Erin Murray. Taking advantage of a loose ball deep in the City half, Murray had an effort from the edge of the area go over the crossbar in the opening minute of play.
As City battled to regain control of possession in the early passages of play, after ten minutes they were forced into a change of personnel as Hollie Smith was unable to continue. Ffion Price was introduced in her stead, ably covering on the left.
Continuing to establish control on play as the half progressed, Laura Curnock and Nieve Jenkins both saw chances go just wide in the build-up to City’s opener.
Mikayla Cook found the opener with a terrific strike with little over ten minutes of the half remaining, taking on a shot from inside the area and exceeding the reach of ‘keeper Molly Arnesen.
Laura Curnock doubled the lead not long afterwards with a sweetly struck penalty-kick following a handball inside the Barry Town United area.
Adding a third in injury time that was perhaps City’s finest of the afternoon, Mackenzie Olden produced a terrific effort from outside the area that flew in at the top corner.
Barry Town United were limited in possession throughout the second half, continuing to fashion chances through looking to break and counter quickly. However, City’s back line stifled the hosts’ efforts well, with Ceryn Chamberlain on hand to make some good stops when called upon.
Curnock bagged her brace not long after the interval, taking advantage of the hosts not being quite able to clear their lines by finishing impressively from close range.
Bolstered by substitutes in the latter stages of the fixture, the Bluebirds maintained their composure defensively whilst looking to create the chances afforded to them by their dominant possession of the ball.
With a few minutes left of the clock, Olden joined Curnock in netting her second of the afternoon. Played through on goal, Mackenzie finished well from just inside the area to add City’s fifth.
FINAL SCORE: BARRY TOWN UNITED 0-5 CARDIFF CITY
Match Reaction | Darbyshire & Curnock
ID: “We knew that they would come out fast, and I thought that in the first 15 minutes they did cause us some problems. We weren’t quite as composed and confident as what I’d have liked, but once we got the first goal we really took control of the game and 5-0 is a fair reflection of the performance. I’m really happy with the group.
“We talked a lot about keeping a clean sheet. We’ve conceded a couple this year that we shouldn’t have, but you’re going to get those inconsistencies at the start of a season and the players are really starting to settle into the way we want to play, and the new players are really taking on the information we’re giving them.
“Players know that the eleven that will be picked at CCS next week will be the ones that train the best and line up tactically with what we want from the game against Swansea City. There is excitement, there will be some nerves and hopefully a lot of supporters in the stadium to pick us up and get us over the line.
“I’d like to encourage all City fans to come and support us against Swansea City next week. We know it’s a big game and the players will be up for it. The support means absolutely everything, I want to hear as many people supporting from the stands at CCS as possible, and really make it feel like home. We’ll make sure that we’ll put on a show worthy of the fans.”
LC: “First of all, it was a really positive performance from the girls today. We came in today and said that we do not concede, regardless of how we weather the storm. We knew they would come out firing like they did in the first half.
“Personally I’m buzzing to score two goals, I’m off the mark for the season and it was a five-star performance from everybody in the team.
“As soon as we’re done it’s all eyes on next week, derby day at CCS. Every single person wants to be in the starting eleven, so it’s going to be a really big training week for us. It’s a clean slate in this upcoming training week, so I’ll just get my head down to give myself the best chance ahead of next Sunday.”