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Cardiff City complete the treble

Cardiff City 2 (Oakley 15, Beynon 90) Wrexham 0

Cardiff City completed their maiden treble at Rodney Parade, as they defeated Wrexham 2-0 to win the Bute Energy Welsh Cup for the third time in succession.

Early on, both sides threatened each other’s goal. For City, Rhianne Oakley saw her wild volley fly over the bar, while at the other end, Carra Jones’ first-time strike was held well by the diving Ceryn Chamberlain.

Quarter of an hour in, the treble chasing Bluebirds strode into the lead. Emma Beynon’s hooked ball forward was latched onto by Oakley. The winger danced her way into the box unchallenged and found the bottom corner to put Cardiff in front.

What followed after the opener was perhaps a period of sustained nervousness from the finalists. Poor passes, poor touches, and poor finishing frustrated both benches as the half wore on. Coming out of that period, there were more chances. A Red Dragons corner had the Bluebirds panicked, but even with a number of Wrexham legs swinging at the ball, it somehow bounced wide.

Ending the half the stronger team, however, were Iain Darbyshire’s side. Beynon’s powerful side footed volley was turned round the post expertly by Del Morgan, while the keeper had to be on hand again to thwart Molly Kehoe, who had waltzed into the box magnificently. As Cheryl Foster’s whistle blew for the break, it was City who were ahead.

Despite ending the second half the weaker of the two teams, Steve Dale’s side started the second 45 the stronger. The main threat seemed to come from Amber Lightfoot, who had two attempts on goal. On her first, she couldn’t get a good connection on the end of Rebecca Pritchard’s cross, while her second was well held by Chamberlain.

Much of the second half went by without incident. The only thing to bring a cheer from the crowd was when Meg Bowen headed in from a corner, only for the offside flag to deny her. Wrexham introduced Rosie Hughes to the fray to try and make something happen, but not even the pacey striker could muster an attempt on goal.

Ino the final minutes and there were half chances aplenty. There was a mishit from Rosie Hughes, while Mikayla Cook twice had a chance to seal the game for City, but her volley and her chip couldn’t find the target. But, just as stoppage time looked to be a nervy one, Emma Beynon stepped up. A corner wasn’t cleared convincingly by Wrexham, and from 30-yards out, Beynon picked her spot and found the top corner. Cue raucous celebrations from those in the blue corner.

Only a handful of minutes later, the referee blew her whistle for the final time. For large parts of the second half, Wrexham looked the stronger side and could have found something, but this City side just find a way to win, and they managed to complete their first ever treble.

Cardiff City: Ceryn Chamberlain, Ffion Price (sub Hollie Smith 90mins), Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh, Megan Bowen, Rhianne Oakley (sub Lisa Owen 77mins), Seren Watkins, Molly Kehoe (sub Kelly Adams 88mins), Mikayla Cook, Emma Beynon (sub Kelly Walklett 90mins), Eliza Collie. Sub not used: Anna Phelps.

Wrexham: Delyth Morgan, Phoebe Davies, Olivia Fuller, Erin Lovett, Brooke Cairns (sub Annie Small 57mins), Rebecca Pritchard, Amber Lightfoot, Carra Jones, Lili Jones, Keren Allen (sub Katie Sharp 90mins), Mari Gibbard (sub Rosie Hughes 68mins). Subs not used: Chloe Ankers, T-J Dickens.

(faw.cymru)    

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