Barnet Break Unbeaten Run

Cardiff City Ladies lost their unbeaten record in the FA Women’s National Premier League when Barnet Ladies beat them 2-1 at the International Sports Stadium, Leckwith on Sunday. In an entertaining, hard fought match it was the visitors that left with all three points in the bag.

Barnet started the stronger and within five minutes Stacey Sowden took the first shot which Cardiff’s keeper, Rhian Nokes did well to turn around the post.

Cardiff had a couple of free kicks on the edge of the Barnet box. Lauren Townsend struck a well delivered cross but Nicola Cousins headed just wide of the mark.

Barnet were threatening to break the deadlock on the half hour but Cardiff midfielder Sophie Ingle did well to clear the shot off the line from a corner.

Five minutes before the break Cardiff’s Nia Jones laid a beautifully weighted ball for captain Natasha Harding to latch onto. Her pace took her past the Barnet defence and she made no mistake by poking the ball into the right hand corner of the goal, giving the home side a well deserved 1-0 lead at half time.

Just two minutes into the second half Barnet equalised when Cardiff’s defence failed to snuff out the threat of Cheryl Williams on the edge of the box. She coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the goal.

Only five minutes later Sowden dribbled into the area passed Cardiff’s defence and was only thwarted by a diving save from Nokes.

The result could have gone either way with both teams pushing for the winner. It made for an exciting finish to a tremendous game. But, with only four minutes left on the clock, it was Barnet who bagged all three points when, through a melee of players, Rinata Inness struck a shot from close range. The ball bounced and bobbled in the penalty area before crossing the line completing the scoring and giving the visitors the win.

Cardiff City Ladies have no game next Sunday, 23rd October because they have five players in the Wales squad to take on World Cup semi finalists France in the UEFA Championship qualifying game at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday 22nd. Kick off is 6.00pm.