LADIES STORM INTO CUP FINAL
CARMARTHEN Hockey Club’s ladies’ second team took pride of place as they clinched a double celebration.
Not only have they clinched promotion from division four of the South Wales Women’s Hockey League, but they also secured a spot in the League Cup final.
They did so by beating Cardiff and Met Fourths 3-2 at home in a top-of-the-table clash.
Intensity was high from the off, and it was clear this was going to be a close match.
Carmarthen midfielders Lucy Davies, Mari Davies, Kate Howell, Tirion Evans and Poppy Mackenzie-Jones worked tirelessly to keep the game under control. And the hosts took the lead when Yasmin Burgess-Williams made a quick break and fired a shot beyond the keeper.
But minutes from half-time, Cardiff earned a short corner and a deflection gave the visitors the goal they had been looking for to level the scores at the interval.
Pressure from Carmarthen forwards Siriol Richards, Charlotte Harries, Ffion Raymond and Burgess-Williams kept the pressure firmly on Met in the second half, with several short corners awarded to the home side.
Finally, a blocked shot fell to Richards, who deflected the ball into the net.
Cardiff advanced again and after a couple of top-drawer saves from keeper Lowri Davies, a loose ball was picked up by a Met attacker and nobody could stop her short-range tap-in.
Carmarthen defenders Ellie Routley, Emily Stibbs and Delyth Rees did everything they could to keep Cardiff at bay as the prospect of penalty flicks began to loom.
But another spell of pressure by Carmarthen saw the ball find its way to youngster MackenzieJones, and she sent her shot rocketing through the defence and on to the backboard to give her side the lead again.
Cardiff went for broke and won a short corner, but Carmarthen held out to spark celebrations.
Carmarthen face Whitchurch Saints Sixths in their next league match before a Challenge Cup semi-final against Gwent Fourths.
Carmarthen ladies’ first team also tasted success as they beat
Cardiff University Thirds 1-0 in division one.
Carmarthen were under pressure straightaway, but defenders Ffion Evans, Leia Thomas and Ffion Dart kept the visitors at bay.
Hard work by forwards Bethany James, Sara Evans and Cerys Smith led to a penalty corner for Carmarthen. And a fine strike from Ffion Church found the backboard to give the hosts the lead.
The students hit back quickly, but home keeper Lowri Davies stood firm.
Both sides began to tire as the game progressed, but Carmarthen midfielders Catrin Soons, Rose Charnley and Church kept Cardiff at bay. Kate Williams then had a chance to extend the lead, but her shot went wide.
The final 10 minutes saw Carmarthen under heavy pressure, but they held on to claim victory.
Player of the match was Leia Thomas.
Carmarthen face Penarth in their next game.
Carmarthen men made it clean sweep for the club as they beat
Whitchurch 6ths 4-1.
Carmarthen looked eager to play expansively from the first whistle and captain Osian Evans played an incisive pass to young striker Josh Gwynne, who found the net from the top of the D.
Gwynne soon doubled his tally – and Carmarthen’s lead – with another excellent strike from a penalty corner.
Whitchurch managed a riposte before the break, capitalising on a loose ball and making the score 2-1 to the hosts at the break.
Carmarthen started the second half in the same vein as the first, and when another searching ball in from Evans struck a post, experienced full-back Steffan Walters was the first to react and he coolly slotted home for Carmarthen’s third.
Carmarthen put the game to bed in the final quarter as Walters fed winger Adam Poole, who tapped the ball in from close range.
Gwynne was named man of the match.
Carmarthen travel to play league leaders Neath 2nds this weekend.*