Cardiff Score Five Against Plucky Cyncoed

Cardiff City Ladies progressed to the quarterfinal stages of the FAW Challenge Cup with a convincing 5-0 victory over fellow Cardiff team Cyncoed Ladies. Despite a plucky performance on a sticky surface, Cyncoed had no answers to Cardiff’s movement and their experience proved too much.

For long periods throughout the game the visitors were camped in Cyncoed’s half with the home team’s only threat coming from experienced Welsh international Emma Jones in the heart of the midfield.

Cardiff’s first effort on goal came with only three minutes gone. The centre of the park was very tacky and the flanks seemed to be the better option. Striker Zoe Atkins sent over an inviting cross for Ellie Smith, who rose and headed just wide.
 
This was a warning sign for Cyncoed as two minutes later Cardiff opened the scoring. This time Smith turned provider with a pin point cross for Nicola Cousins to head home.

On 23 minutes Cardiff midfielder Steph Williams hammered the second home from just outside the penalty area with a shot that flew past goalkeeper Michelle Pervin into the top left hand corner.

On the half hour Cardiff again worked the flanks with Atkins crossing in for Captain, Natasha Harding to head home.
 
Cousins nearly scored her second shortly after when her shot hit the foot of the post, but the sides went in at half time with the visitors leading 3-0.

The second half carried on in much the same vein as the first as Cardiff forged forward in search of more goals. Cyncoed’s keeper Pervin made some very crucial saves and the home defence was stubborn, making it difficult for Cardiff to add to their tally.

Williams and Lauren Townsend both had good efforts saved, whilst Harding hit the crossbar, before Nia Jones made it four with a long range shot low into the left hand corner.
 
Annie Pritchard completed the scoring in the 80th minute when Townsend floated in a lovely delivery for her to head home Cardiff’s fifth.

A record 31 teams entered the competition this season and the quarterfinal ties are to be played next February.