Cardiff City FC Women 5 (Nolan, Evans 3, Cochrane pen)
MBi Llandudno 2 (Bowe, Thomas)
FAW Women's Welsh Cup Final 2016
TWO key factors ensured Llandudno’s dream FAW Women’s Welsh Cup Final date with Cardiff City ended in a 5-2 defeat.
The first was the performance of City striker Shannon Evans, whose dazzling hat-trick earned her a fully deserved player of the match award.
And the second was an injury just past the half hour to Tudno’s best defender Jemila Bukari, which left the North Wales side struggling at the back for the rest of the game.
Bukari’s value to Llandudno was shown in just the second minute when she dispossessed he rapid Evans with a superb tackle.
Then in the fifth minute Tudno were in dreamland.
Claire Colville, Sofie Owen, Catrin Thomas and Rosie Hughes combined well down the left before Samantha Jarvis-Evans did well to win a tackle and find top-scorer Katie Bowe, whose 25-yarder flew into the net over keeper Ceryn Chamberlain. It was Bowe’s 16th goal of the season.
Cardiff were on terms just four minutes later when the ball broke kindly off team-mate Evans for Kylie Nolan, who applied a cool finish.
It was so nearly 2-1 when Tudno keeper Jess Hughes’ attempted clearance cannoned off Evans towards goal, but Colville cleared the danger.
However, in the 18th minute a cross into the box was only helped by Jarvis-Evans into the path of Shannon Evans, who volleyed home powerfully.
At this point it looked like City might run away with it, Hughes denying Evans twice, once from close range and then from a free kick.
Llandudno responded with a brilliant free kick into the box from Bowe which Chamberlain fluffed, but Rosie Hughes headed wide.
Then came a major turning point. Evans rounded Hughes but was forced wide. In her attempt to close down the striker, Bukari went down awkwardly, Evans squared to Alicia Davies but again keeper Hughes came to the rescue.
Bukari could hardly walk let alone run for the remaining time she was on the pitch, but nonetheless Tudno finished the first half strongly.
Bowe tested Chamberlain with a fierce left-footer before Owen lashed a brilliant shot inches wide.
Early in the second period Evans hammered a right-footer onto the roof of the net before at the other end Stacey Tradewell who blasted over wildly.
Bukari eventually had to leave the pitch in the 64th minute and from here the blues took control.
Nolan’s dink over the defence released Evans, who made t 3-1.
Hughes foiled Nolan with a great stop, but in the 72nd minute Colville brought down Evans in the area and substitute Chelsea Cochrane scored from the spot.
Llandudno never let their heads drop and on 76 minutes their player of the match Catrin Thomas connected with a Bowe free kick which Chamberlain fumbled over the line.
And it should have been 4-3 when Hughes was one-on-one with Chamberlain but shot straight at the keeper.
It was all over in the 82nd minute when Evans raced clear into the box and thundered home for her hat-trick.
So defeat in the end for Llandudno, but nonetheless a magnificent run to their first Welsh Cup Final.
Llandudno: Jess Hughes, Jemila Bukari (Catherine Higgott 64), Claire Colville (c), Jordanne Greenough, Catrin Thomas, Stacey Tradewell (Rebecca Jarvis-Evans 88), Katie Bowe, Sofie Owen, Samantha Jarvis-Evans (Alys Marsh-Hughes 90), Rosie Hughes, Kelsey Davies.
