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Match Previews

PREVIEW | Barry Town United Women vs Wrexham AFC Women

Red Dragons travel to Jenner Park looking to extend their unbeaten streak

1 October 2023

Wrexham AFC Women travel back down south to take on Barry Town United in their second consecutive away match with Steve Dale’s side hopeful of retaining their unbeaten start to the season.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match, which takes place at Jenner Park on Sunday, October 1.

The opposition: Barry Town United

The hosts have brought in several new players over the summer and added the services of Wales U17 international Vera Jones on Friday, September 29.

It’s been a disappointing start to the season for Barry, who currently sit bottom of the Genero Adran Premier table after 3-0 losses to Aberystwyth Town and Swansea City in their opening two matches of the season.

With the match against the Red Dragons being Barry’s first home match of the season, they’ll be looking for a response at Jenner Park.

In the hot seat: Stevie McCarthy-Campbell

In what was summer of change for the Linnets, there is a new manager in the hot seat, with Stevie McCarthy-Campbell having been appointed as first team manager in July 2023.

McCarthy-Campbell has spent over half a decade at Barry Town United, previously acting as their head of youth phase and youth team manager.

He’s previously worked with Bristol Rovers and Solihull United and has a wealth of experience within Welsh football - his last role came at Llantwit Major, where he was first team manager.

What our manager said: Steve Dale

“We’re in good spirits at the moment,” Dale explained. “It’s important that we don’t take our eye off the ball, it doesn’t matter where you are in this division, we’ve already seen that teams can take points from anyone.”

“There’s obviously a bit more belief within the group after the opening two matches, we always knew going to be tough but the way that we’ve started and found that extra level has been really promising.

“We want to continue to get positive results and make sure that we prepare in the right way so that we can continue what we’ve been doing well.

“You have to set up the right way and it’s important that you don’t take anything for granted in this division,” he said. “We know teams are well established but it’s important we concentrate on ourselves as that’s the best way to get results.”

Last time out: Pontypridd United 0-3 Wrexham AFC

Wrexham AFC claimed their first league win of the season, after a 3-0 victory over Pontypridd United away from home, at USW Sports Park.

Dale’s side started off in a similar fashion to the Swansea match and made a strong impression early on as they enjoyed greater spells of possession than the hosts.

It wasn’t too long until Wrexham broke the deadlock, as Amber Lightfoot burst down the left flank, driving towards goal in the 26th minute.

Lightfoot eventually struck on her right foot, with her low effort too much for Klaudia Wojtyczka to deal with, as despite getting a hand on the ball, it nestled into the back of the net to give Wrexham the lead.

Lili Jones made it two and increased Wrexham’s advantage, poking home from close-range under pressure after making a smart run into the box which allowed her to fire the loose ball into the back of the Pontypridd net.

Just under 20 minutes into the second-half, Rosie Hughes went on to score Wrexham’s third, putting the game beyond any doubt.

Mari Gibbard played a smart through ball to Lightfoot that split the home defence, and Wrexham’s number 11 did incredibly well to poke the ball past an onrushing Wojtyczka and find Hughes in acres of space on the right.

Hughes made no mistake, firing into an empty net to put Wrexham out of sight and all but secure the victory.

How to follow the match

As the fixture hasn’t been selected for TV coverage, the only way to stay up-to-date with the fixture is by following the Club’s social channels.

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

Match Reports

REPORT | Barry Town United Women 1-5 Wrexham AFC Women

Red Dragons record emphatic win in South Wales

1 October 2023

Wrexham AFC Women claimed an excellent 5-1 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park, with striker Rosie Hughes netting five goals for Steve Dale’s side to lift Wrexham to first place in the Genero Adran Premier table.

Dale made one change to the side who beat Pontypridd Town at USW Sports Park, with Del Morgan making way for Charlotte Bolland in goal.

It was Wrexham who started the strongest of the sides, building on their good start to the 2023/24 season – having claimed four points from their opening two matches.

Having started the season in fine goalscoring form, Hughes continued to cause undeniable problems for the opposing defence, and Wrexham’s number nine opened the scoring after just seven minutes.

TJ Dickens whipped a free-kick from the right into the path of Hughes, and she rose highest at the back post to head Steve Dale’s side into an early lead in South Wales.

Hughes almost doubled her tally just minutes later, but an ambitious chipped effort from distance drove just wide of the goal.

However, as per usual, Wrexham’s goalscoring striker went on to get her next goal just minutes later, doubling the Red Dragons’ advantage in the 14th minute.

Rebecca Pritchard caused her opposite number a range of problems, with the wide player impacting the game whenever she picked up the ball for Dale’s side.

Pritchard shifted the ball out of her feet and produced a pin-point cross into the path of Hughes, who poked home on her right foot - Barry keeper Erin Brennan got a touch on the ball, but it wasn’t enough to deny Hughes.

The match got even better for Wrexham in South Wales, as Hughes claimed a hat-trick after just 18 minutes at Jenner Park.

Pritchard put yet another fine ball into the box, finding Wrexham’s number nine in the box and the 27-year-old striker made no mistake from close-range to score her third of the afternoon.

Louisha Doran went close on the brink of half-time, but the visitors were forced to settle for a three-goal lead at the interval.

After an exhalating opening 45 minutes, Dale’s side continued in the same fashion and were relentless in their attempts to add more goals onto their first half showing.

Hughes made it four goals in the 53rd minute, as she made an excellent run before lifting it over the oncoming Brennan in the Barry goal to make it 4-0 to the Red Dragons.

If the match wasn’t already sealed for Wrexham, Hughes made sure that three points would be going back to North Wales as she netted her fifth goal of the match in the 66th minute.

Yet again, the forward was in outstanding form, and rounded Brennan from close-range to fire into an empty net and round of a brilliant performance to score her seventh league goal of the season.

Barry would grab a consolation goal late on, as Lucy Attwood made it 5-1 with minutes to spare, but it wouldn’t dampen Wrexham’s spirits as they claimed an impressive victory to lift them into first place in the league table.

Wrexham AFC: Bolland, Davies, Allen, Doran (Sharp 63’), Lovett (C. Jones 60’), Dickens, L. Jones (Whitefoot 78’), Lightfoot, Gibbard, Pritchard, Hughes (Spearing 78’).

Sub not used: Ankers.