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.
