Match Report | Cardiff City FC Women 4-1 Cascade YC Ladies
Cardiff City FC Women secured their second victory of the week, defeating a defiant Cascade YC Ladies side 4-1 at Ocean Park Arena on Wednesday evening.
Iain Darbyshire made five changes to the side that defeated Aberystwyth Town Ladies away on Sunday afternoon with goalkeeper Ceryn Chamberlain, defender Lisa Owen, midfielder Kanisha Underdown and double goal forward Zoe Atkins coming into the starting line-up alongside 16-year-old winger Mikayla Cook, who was making her first league start for the Bluebirds.
City didn’t have to wait long for their opening goal, netting just after the minute mark. Forward Phoebie Poole capitalised on a short goalkeeping clearance, and fired in to give Darbyshire’s side the advantage.
On her first WPWL start, Cook was making a real impact, and caused the Cascade defence continual issues in the opening half. She forced the opposition ‘keeper Hollie Williams into two smart saves early on.
The Bluebirds controlled possession and had chance after chance in the first 45 minutes. Poole went close to her second, Siobhan Walsh saw a header deflected wide and Cook lashed over from a Poole cross.
The second goal was coming - and it did in some style after 29 minutes. Atkins adding a delightful finishing touch to a fine team move, curling into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Cook and Jasmine Simpson were both unfortunate not to add to the score later on in the half, but the third goal came for the away side. Katie Davies struck over for Cascade with four minutes of the half remaining, but Abbie Davies made no mistake in added on time. Abbie hitting the top corner from distance to give her side hope going in at the break.
City came out of the blocks for the second period looking to add to their advantage, and quell any potential comeback from the away side. Poole saw a low effort saved by Williams early in the half, before the fourth goal of the match eventually came with 54 minutes on the clock. The dangerous Cook crossed from the left for Atkins, who took a touch to set herself before composedly slotting into the net left footed.
Williams was in great form for Cascade, and kept the score down. Their No.1 stopped efforts from Simpson and Lisa Owen before the hour mark. Simpson did have the ball in the net after 61 minutes, but she was stopped from adding to her tally this season by the assistant referee’s flag.
Two substitutes combined expertly for City’s fourth strike on 74 minutes. Catherine Walsh’s delightful cross was met brilliantly by Danielle Green, who bulleted a header into the back of the net for her first goal of the campaign.
Cascade were denied any further consolation strikes as Chrystalla Moreton’s shot in added time was well saved by Chamberlain in the City goal. The Bluebirds deservedly picking up all three points to make it seven games unbeaten in the WPWL.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY FC WOMEN 4-1 CASCADE YC LADIES
Cardiff City FC Women: Chamberlain, Owen, Daley, S.Walsh (Minton 75), Pinchard, Underdown (Evans 75), Norman, Cook (Major 69), Poole (Green 59), Atkins, Simpson (C.Walsh 69). Subs Not Used: Hastings, Price.
Cascade YC Ladies: Williams, Hamer (Carroll 55), Thomas, Palmer (Moreton 43), Evan-Watkins, K. Davies, Cooper (Mills 79), Lewis, A. Davies, James (Kemp 79), Bowles (Anthony 79). Subs Not Used: Carroll, Gilpin.
