Fiona Barry’s stoppage time goal gave Cardiff City all three points in a 2-1 win over Wrexham at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
A first half own goal from Erin Lovett gave the Bluebirds the lead at half time, before Faye Hillier-Knox brought the game level on the hour mark.
Coming off the bench, Barry was found in behind the Wrexham defence and kept her cool before firing low into the corner to ensure the win deep into additional time.
Returning to action for the first time in 2026, head coach Iain Darbyshire welcomed Ffion Price, Laura Curnock and Mikayla Cook back into the starting XI from the team that knocked out Swansea City in the Adran Trophy last time out.
City started the contest strongly, threatening with early chances through Cook and Lily Billingham inside the opening ten minutes to show the opposition their attacking intent. It was Price who went closest after crossing the ball deep into the Wrexham area, whichc annoned off the crossbar and rebounded to Cook, who was unable to convert.
However, City took the lead after 17 minutes, as Billingham played a long ball to Cook, who skipped past the defender and delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal which was turned into the net by Lovett to give the Bluebirds a deserved lead.
Billingham came close to doubling the lead, after being found on the left wing from a long ball by Megan Bowen, who cut inside and struck the crossbar with her effort. She would hit the woodwork again before the break after winning the ball deep in the Wrexham half and striking from distance but denied again by the bar.
City had the ball in the net again shortly before half time as Price’s cross was met by Laura Curnock, who put her header into the corner but the flag was raised for offside.
After the break, the hosts looked to continue the pressure, and came close to scoring their second as Hannah Power had her effort cleared off the line.
However, the visitors levelled the scoring on the hour mark following a free-kick played into the box was headed home from close-range by Faye Hillier-Knox.
Looking for the lead again, City remained resilient and as we moved into stoppage time, a long ball played forward by Nieve Jenkins was picked up by Barry, who drove towards goal, holding off the oncoming defender and fired home to secure all three points.
The result puts the Bluebirds just two points behind Wrexham with a game in hand in the league standings.
Next up for City, attention turns to the Bute Energy Welsh Cup as they play Trefelin on Wednesday 7th January, with a kick-off of 7:45pm.
REACTION | IAIN DARBYSHIRE
“I thought we were outstanding” Iain began. “We could have been three or four goals up at half-time, we had so many big chances. I think we hit the bar twice and the post twice so, we came in at half time happy with the performance but knew that we could have been more clinical.
“The second half was a great contest. It was end to end both where teams really went for it. Even when Wrexham scored, both teams again we're going for the win and we're just thankful that one fell for us at the end.
“Lily [Billingham] is an incredible player. She does it in training all the time, where she picks out every corner. Even in matches recently she’s been scoring goals as well. Today was one of them where you think maybe it's not your day, but we took that moment when it came. Across the team, we should have really put some more away but it made for an entertaining game and thankfully we got the win at the end.
"For us, even if we hadn't come away with the three points today, it was in our hands. We know we have to play Wrexham twice more and there's some really good teams we’re going to be going up against us in Phase Two. We can't look that far ahead because we got some difficult games coming up.
“Briton Ferry and Aberystwyth away aren’t going to be easy games, so we now have to back this up. We can't rest on this result and think it's all going go our way because if we slip up again in the next few weeks, we find ourselves chasing again, so it's all up to us now to make sure we make this count.”