Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.32 2022-23

Moneyfields 0 Cardiff City Ladies 2
Cardiff City clinched the FAWNL Division One
South West title by the slenderest of margins
after a season long battle with Exeter City, edging
out the Grecians on goal difference courtesy of a
fine 2-0 away win at third place Moneyfields.
Two well taken efforts, one in each half, by
Ellie Sargent sealed the title for the Dragons. The
hosts made it a good contest with resolute
defending and occasional threats on the Cardiff
goal but the pace and clever movement of the
Dragons attack created many other chances right
throughout.
After an even opening it was Sargent who
had the first dangerous effort, curling a twenty Ellie Sargent comes under pressure from Payton Howard
yard effort inches wide on nine minutes. Charley (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
Wilson-Wilton nearly pounced on some
defensive confusion but Cardiff keeper Laura O'Sullivan was able to gather. Moneys keeper
Grace Jenkins was very quick to sweep up behind her defenders, only losing out once when Cori
Williams took the ball past her but ran out of space to finish.
Beth Burgess went close for Moneys, firing across goal but the majority of chances were at
the other end. Jenkins tipped over a 40-yard effort from Chloe Lloyd and then after a frantic
sequence of chances, Cardiff took the lead. Another Lloyd effort smacked the bar, a second shot
was blocked on the line but Sargent drove home the rebound on 33 minutes.
Moneys tried to respond and Gemma Simmonds forced O'Sullivan into action with a shot
but the final word of the half went to the visitors with Jenkins tipping a Lloyd free kick on to the
bar.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Cardiff threatening on the break and
Moneys pressing forward but being well contained by a solid Cardiff defence.
It was Sargent who sored the crucial second goal on 72 minutes, racing clear of of the last
defender to finish low past the advancing keeper. With the insurance of a two-goal lead, Cardiff
saw the game out fairly comfortably and were close to adding to their lead on two occasions.
The final whistle saw joyous scenes with the sizeable group of travelling supporters
celebrating an immediate return to the Southern Premier Division after a long pursuit of
leaders Exeter City who also had a superb season. Moneyfields suffered only their third defeat
of a brilliant debut season at National League level but the day belonged to the Dragons of
Cardiff.
Moneyfields: Georgia Jenkins, Emma Moody, Becka Tonks, Payton Howard, Sharna
Watson, Kim Whitcombe, Beth Burgess, Lucy Nightingale, Kau’inohea Taylor, Gemma
Simmonds, Charley Wilson-Wilton. Subs: Lauren Saylor, Natalie Bavister, Freya Farrow,
Nicole Filipe, Sophie Kingsley-Cabell.
Cardiff City Ladies: Laura O’Sullivan, Libby Piggott, Emily Poole, Ellie Sargent, Chloe
Lloyd, Cori Williams, Grace Horrell-Thomas, Laura Williams, Caitlin Williams, Thierry-Jo
Gauvain, Ruby Scahill. Subs: Kaitlyn Morgan, Ingrid Aadland, Kelly Isaac, Elianna Chavez,
Hannah Mills.

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