City Women were defeated by Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Despite Mikayla Cook’s free-kick putting the Bluebirds ahead, the hosts claimed all three points.
Head coach Iain Darbyshire made four changes to the side that defeated Swansea City last time out, with Shannon Evans, Kerry Walklett, Ffion Price and Cook coming into the starting XI. There was also a return for midfielder Helen Evans, who was included on the Bluebirds bench.
City made an assured start to the game and looked like a side with plenty of experience of these big games. The ball fell to Cook on the edge of the area who was felled, allowing a set-piece chance. The Bluebirds’ no. 21 stepped up herself and fired a brilliant strike past Liz Craven to open the scoring.
Darbyshire’s side showed confidence in possession for much of the first half and it was important at that point to capitalise with a second goal. The hosts equalised at the end of the first period through Katie Barker from close-range, meaning it was all to play for in the second half.
Wrexham went ahead with 48 minutes on the clock, with Barker netting her second, requiring a reaction from City. The Bluebirds looked for reinforcements from the bench in search of getting back level, with Lisa Owen, Mackenzie Olden, Amy Long, Madison Lloyd and Evans coming on.
Despite City’s efforts to get back into the contest, Faye Knox’s strike and a penalty from Barker saw the hosts claim victory.
The Bluebirds’ final Adran Premier fixture of the 2025/26 campaign is a home clash against The New Saints on April 5th, kicking off at 4:45pm.
FINAL SCORE: WREXHAM AFC WOMEN 4–1 CARDIFF CITY WOMEN
Wrexham AFC: Craven, Davies, Bartle ©, Mahmood (Hughes 77’), Harvey, Smith, Suckley (Clark 87'), Barker (Sadler 90'), Knox, L Jones (Fuller 77’), Francis-Jones. Subs not used: Nash, Lovett, C Jones.
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Price (Long 73’), Jenkins (Owen 63’), Bowen, S Evans, Cook, Power © (H Evans 73’), Walklett, Billingham, Barry (Lloyd 73’), Curnock (Olden 63’). Subs not used: Saunders, Thomas.