Late Winner Sinks Cardiff

Cardiff City Ladies were unlucky to come away empty handed in this very entertaining FA Women’s National Premier League match when hosts Barnet narrowly beat them by a late goal.

It was Barnet who had the early chance when striker Emma Davies pounced on a short back pass from Cardiff defender, Kayleigh Green, but her shot hit the post and Green was able to clear the rebound away to safety.

After that, few chances fell to either team in the first half but just before the whistle Cardiff keeper Rhian Nokes ensured that they went in goalless when she dived low to her left to parry away a shot from Abby Prosser.

Both sides increased the pressure in the second half and in the opening minutes it was Nokes who was again called upon to block another shot, this time from Stacey Sowden.

Cardiff then had a flurry of chances to break the deadlock, but Barnet keeper Cherie Rowlands was equal to them. Firstly, following great exchanges out on the left between Ellie Smith and Lauren Townsend, but Zoe Atkins could only direct her shot straight into the arms of Rowlands.

Then Amie Lea sprung Barnet’s back four but fired her shot tamely at Rowlands, who gathered safely.

Barnet made a substitution bringing on Renata Inis and within minutes she had beaten the Cardiff defence but her effort went wide of the post.

But it was the home team that eventually scored what was to be the match winning goal in the 86th minute when Sowden curled a shot into the top left corner of the goal from the edge of the box.

After the game Cardiff coach, Michele Adams said, “It was a disappointing result when we were so close to getting at least a point. With the effort that the girls put in, a draw would have been a fair result.”

Next Sunday Cardiff make the long trip to Sunderland before the League Cup competition begins the week after.