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Match Previews

PREVIEW | Cardiff Met vs Wrexham AFC Women

The Red Dragons travel back down to South Wales this weekend

5 November 2023

Wrexham AFC Women travel down to South Wales as Steve Dale’s side attempt to make it three league wins in a row as they take on Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus.

For everything you need to know ahead of the match, read our preview, below.

The opposition

While Cardiff Met are normally a side you’d associate as being a part of the ‘big three’, along with Cardiff City and Swansea City - the south Wales outfit have struggled this season.

Daniel Delahay’s side currently sit fifth in the league table, having had a poor start to the season so far, winning just twice in six matches.

Admittedly, one of those wins did come against six-time league champions Swansea - but they’ve struggled to hit form since then and kick on in their attempts to climb the table.

Despite that, a narrow 1-0 win against Pontypridd United provided crucial points for Wrexham’s opponents, who will be looking to build upon that performance in their pursuit of the top four.

While they might not possess the points total that they would want, Ingrid Aadland will provide a stern threat to the Red Dragons’ backline as the joint-fourth top goalscorer in the league.

In the hot seat: Daniel Delahey

Having joined in the summer, Delahey is in his first full season at the club, having worked as an academy coach at Cardiff City.

Delahay is an experienced operator within the women’s game, having worked with Merthyr Town, the FAW Trust, Bristol City and the Wales’ U16 national team as a coach.

While he has overseen a summer of change at Met, Delahey will be looking to restore his side to their previous heights sooner rather than later.

What our manager said: Steve Dale

“Cardiff Met are a team who once they pick up, they’ll be up there challenging for that top four as well,” Dale explained. “If we can get another good result it will give us a cushion in terms of the teams who are chasing us so i think that it’s important that we continue to prepare the right way.

“We’ll be confident - our away form is very good and coming off the back of the two big wins against Aberystwyth Town and The New Saints, so hopefully we can continue our momentum.

“We just need to focus on ourselves and make sure we’re in a good position. The girls have been brilliant so far and should take a lot of credit for where we are at the moment. We’ve had some really good performances along the way.

“This match is massive. We want to be in a positive position heading into the Christmas period, we have some tough games coming up and it is important we continue to pick up points.

“We don’t really want to be chasing big gaps to that top four, we want to be setting the pace.”

Last time out: Wrexham AFC Women 3-1 TNS

Wrexham AFC Women claimed a derby day victory over The New Saints at The Rock, as Steve Dale’s side recorded an impressive 3-1 victory which saw Rosie Hughes score her 100th goal in a Wrexham shirt.

Carra Jones broke the deadlock after 22 minutes from close-range in the derby - her first league goal since joining the Club in the summer.

Lightfoot, who was straight back into the starting line-up this weekend, had an immediate impact at The Rock. It was her work on the edge of the box that created space for a through ball into Jones, who made no mistake from close range on her left foot.

Wrexham continued to grow into the match in the second half, and it was Rosie Hughes who doubled the advantage with a goal that will go down in the record books.

Having received the ball on the bounce from distance, Hughes produced a truly impressive volley from range which looped over Haydn-Jones in the 53^rd minute to extend the lead.

It wasn’t just any goal though. It was the goal that lifted Hughes on to 100 career goals for Wrexham AFC – a tally which no other current player at the Club (male or female) has been able to replicate.

Carra Jones netted her second goal of the match, all but securing three points for Wrexham with 20 minutes left to play.

The visitors scored a consolation late on with three minutes remaining, as Helen Evans scored an incredible free kick from distance which rose past Del Morgan with the Wrexham keeper unfortunate not to keep a clean sheet.

Despite that, it didn’t spoil the party as the Red Dragons held on for an important victory at The Rock on derby day against TNS.

How to watch

Following the announcement that all non-televised Women’s matches, not selected for TV coverage will be live streamed, you can tune into today’s match wherever you are in the world.

In order to access the four-camera stream of Sunday’s match, you must have a registered account on iFollow Wrexham.

If you already have set up an account on iFollow Wrexham, all you need to do is log in and you will have access to the stream.

Live social media updates will be provided on the Club’s official X account, @WrexhamAFCWomen.

Match Reports

REPORT | Cardiff Met 0-3 Wrexham AFC Women

Red Dragons climb to second in the Genero Adran Premier table after impressive victory

5 November 2023

Wrexham AFC Women claimed a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Cardiff Met with Rosie Hughes, Mari Gibbard and Ava Suckley all getting on the scoresheet to lift Wrexham to second in the Genero Adran Premier table.

Steve Dale’s side started strongly, with both Amber Lightfoot and Rosie Hughes going close early-on as Wrexham looked to assert themselves on the match in South Wales.

Following on from a 3-1 win against The New Saints last weekend, the visitors were full of confidence as The Red Dragons’ frontline went in search of an early goal at Cyncoed Campus.

Despite producing those early chances, Cardiff Met grew into the game – proving to be stern opposition with their direct style and quick movement which made it difficult for Wrexham to settle into the match.

Although Met made the game difficult for Dale’s side, they struggled to create many chances of note, with debutant keeper Chloe Ankers making a solid impression in the first half for the Red Dragons.

With just one minute remaining in the first half of the match, Wrexham created their best chance of the match so far as Hughes caused no end of problems down the flanks and drove towards goal.

However, she squared the ball to Carra Jones, who seemed destined to break the deadlock – only for the forward to not quite get the proper connection as her effort drifted wide of goal.

Despite performance levels not being quite up to expectations in the first-half, the Red Dragons came out with renewed impetus and quickly started to grow into the second-half.

It took until 61 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and it was Hughes who provided some much-needed relief for the visitors – scoring her 101st goal for Wrexham in the process.

Both sides continued to battle it out, with the next goal vital for the outcome of the match with results seemingly going Wrexham’s way at the time.

With 73 minutes played, Mari Gibbard produced an impeccable chip over the head of Daisy Farrow after Amber Lightfoot played the number 27 through on goal to extend the Red Dragons’ lead.

The hosts continued to challenge, but eventually Wrexham got an all important third-goal to make the match slightly more comfortable.

Rosie Hughes unselfishly cut-back the ball into the path Substitute Ava Suckley, who rounded off a fantastic second-half showing.

Suckley made no mistake firing home from close range on her return to Genero Adran Premier action in the 89th minute to seal all three points for Wrexham in South Wales and lift Dale’s side up to second place in the league standings.

In the ninth minute of added time, Hughes received a second yellow card for a late tackle inside the Cardiff Met box, in what was an unfortunate ending to a brilliant second half.

Wrexham AFC: Ankers, Pritchard, Allen (Sharp 58’), Doran, Davies, Dickens, L. Jones, Gibbard, C. Jones (Suckley 77’), Lightfoot, Hughes.

Subs not used: Spearing, Whitefoot, Mackenzie.