Penybont 1 Aber Town Ladies 3: Match Report & Highlights

SWWGL Cup Quarter-Final
Sunday 10th March 2019
Penybont Ladies 1 (S. Davies 51)
Aberystwyth Town Ladies 3 (Cat Davies 47, N. Evans 55, Cooper 74)

Second half strikes from Cat Davies, Naomi Evans and Caroline Cooper put the Black and Greens safely through to the Welsh Women's League Cup Semi-Final on a cold and windy day in South Wales, writes Steven Brookes.

A week after a hard-fought victory at home to Caldicot in the league, attentions now turned to the League Cup and a visit to Penybont. With the windy conditions having a big effect, the visitors were struggling to match their high standards but were still looking the most likely to take the lead. Naomi Evans came close at the back post but was denied by a good save. Caroline Cooper and Tania Wylde saw long-range eforts comfortably saved whilst Kelly Thomas's strike went over the bar. Cat Davies nearly broke the deadlock later on in the half but the forward saw her powerful header go wide of the post after a pinpoint cross from Nia Witts.

A disappointing first half, but the Black and Greens were keen to start the second positively, and two minutes in, they were ahead! An excellent cross from Naomi Evans fell to the feet of Cat Davies who found the bottom corner to give Aber the lead. The wind was still causing a few issues and Town's keeper Ffion Ashman had to react well as the ball nearly bounced over her head and in. Penybont didn't have to wait too long to find the equaliser though and Shorna Davies poked the ball under Ashman and into the net on 51 minutes. Four minutes later Aber regained their lead. Naomi Evans' first time cross/shot looping over the home side's keeper before hitting the back of the net. The Mid-Wales side seemed in full control as time ticked on: Wylde was desperate to score for a seventh consecutive match, but it was Cooper who increased the lead further, the midfielder's excellent left-footed strike curling into the top corner with sixteen minutes remaining. Aber did push forward for a fourth but three was enough and despite not being at their very best it was another important victory for the team in green who progress to the next stage of the competition.

Aber Town Ladies will travel to the capital this Sunday as they face a difficult fixture against Splott Albion on what could be massive day in terms of the title race (ko 2pm).