Bluebelles stay top with impressive away victory

Cardiff Bluebelles 7 Cwmbran Celtic 1

Sunday 23 September 

Celtic Park, Cwmbran 

SWWGL Division 1

This weekend the Bluebelles first team continued their SWWGL Division 1 campaign with a tricky looking away tie to Cwmbran Celtic. Cwmbran, having played at a higher level for a number of years, have found themselves in Division 1 for the 2018/19 season but will be looking for an immediate promotion back into the second tier of Welsh football having recruited well over the summer. The Bluebelles, after their impressive start to the season, hold similar ambitions for a promotion to the Welsh Women's League and this promised to be an exciting encounter.

The game started brightly and after a very even opening to the game, the away team started to create the better of the chances. A training ground move saw Captain Becky Cornelius find Hannah Moger who arrowed a volley into the top left hand corner as the Bluebelles opened the scoring.

After taking the lead, the Cardiff based team began to dominate possession, and a few more chances went begging with Charlene Hewings finding the home keeper in tremendous form. Just as they were last weekend, Moger and player of the match, Holly Jenkins, were causing all kinds of problems down the flanks and it was Moger involved once again as the Bluebelles were given a golden opportunity to extend their lead. The right back made a superb driving run down the right hand side before being felled in the box. Becca Jones, stepped up to take the resulting spot kick but saw her penalty rebound off the post as the scoreline remained 1-0.  

Soon after though, the Bluebelles did add to their lead. This time it was Jenkins on the opposite flank whose barnstorming run led to the ball ending up in the Cwmbran net. Jenkins found striker Hewings, who played a lovely flick around the corner for Naomi Coulson to race through and put the ball through the keepers legs.

The Bluebelles weren't to have it all their own way though, as just before half time Cwmbran pulled one back. A very well taken goal saw the Celtic's lone striker bury the ball into the top corner giving goalkeeper Kirsty Lewis no chance.

The teams went into the break with the Bluebelles leading 2-1, the score line perhaps not reflecting the Cardiff side's dominance, but the game was still firmly in the balance as many would have predicted going into this match. 

Manager Adam Hewings was keen to see his side's pressure pay off and it did so in the second half as the Bluebelles began to make the most of their chances. 

The away side were relentless in their pressing and Cwmbran were to see very little of the ball in the second period as the Bluebelles dominated in all areas of the pitch. 

Goalkeeper Lewis once again impressed between the sticks as her excellent distribution from the back started numerous attacks. Defender Mollie Bailey, making her first appearance of the season, also put in an assured performance alongside skipper Cornelius giving the Cardiff outfit an excellent base to build from. 

Youngster Amelia Davidson provided plenty of steel in the middle of the park, and with her midfield partners of Jones and O’Donnell once again displaying their full range of passing, the Bluebelles had complete control over the tie.

The forwards looked dangerous throughout and it was a half to remember for Molly Chapman as a hat trick of neat finishes saw her extend her tally for the season to 5, and the Bluebelles gain a comfortable 5-1 lead. 

A second goal for fullback Moger saw the Bluebelles extend their lead further before Jones completed the scoring with a long range effort as the game ended 7-1.

Manager Adam Hewings will have been impressed with all of his squad's efforts in what could have been a hard afternoon for the Bluebelles. Gwen Pugh, Shanice Donovan, Gabbie Cates and Caitlin Thomas also played their part in a comprehensive victory and the Bluebelles remain top of the league after a near faultless display.

Meanwhile, our development ladies were disappointed as their eagerly awaited local derby vs Cardiff City's development side was called off, with City unfortunately being able to field a team for the fixture.

Report by Francesca Howorth, Cardiff Bluebelles Media Officer.

Cardiff Bluebelles kindly sponsored by KCS Transport,  Blue Ridge Canine Academy and Priority Childcare.

Rain doesn’t dampen Bluebelles performance

Cardiff Bluebelles Ladies First Team Squad

Cardiff Bluebelles 12 Goytre United 1

Sunday 16th September 2018

Taibach Park, Port Talbot

SWWGL Division 1

The ladies first team continued their impressive start to the campaign this weekend as they brought all three points back from their first away trip of the season against Goytre United. Heavy rainfall prior to, and during the match, didn’t seem to affect the Bluebelles performance as they once again put in a dominant display from start to finish.

The Cardiff based outfit made a number of changes from last weekend, centre back Gwen Pugh lined up alongside captain Becky Cornelius for her first start of the season, and a changed midfield also saw Gabbie Cates and Amelia Davidson handed their first starts of the campaign.

The Bluebelles started the game in a confident mood, having won the reverse fixture comfortably two weeks beforehand and the Goytre goal was immediately under threat. A goal apiece for the front three of Charlene Hewings, Molly Chapman and Caitlin Thomas saw them head into a three goal lead within 30 minutes, before Goytre hit back with a quick break away to make the score 3-1.

The Bluebelles responded almost immediately though with player of the match, Thomas adding her second of the half. A composed finish by Hewings then added to the Bluebelles’ lead, before she completed her hat trick with a well struck finish from the edge of the box. Despite the Goytre defender’s brave effort to block the shot, Hewings’ strike meant the Bluebelles went into half time with a comfortable 6-1 lead.

The second half began as the first left off with the Bluebelles continuing to dominate possession and keeper Kirsty Lewis was untroubled during the half. Goytre, to their credit, continued to work hard to keep the score line down with their defenders blocking numerous shots, until Becca Jones slotted home from the edge of the box to make it 7-1.

Jones quickly added her second of the afternoon from close range, as an indirect free kick was awarded after the Goytre keeper had handled a back pass. Thomas then added two further goals to match Hewings in taking her goal tally for the afternoon to four.

By now, the Bluebelles were camped in the Goytre half with fullbacks Holly Jenkins and Hannah Moger causing problems all game on the overlap, and it was Moger who completed the scoring for the Bluebelles. After driving down the right flank she cut inside and curled a superb effort into the top of the net with the outside of her foot.

The game was to end 12-1 with manager Adam Hewings delighted to see his team bring all three points back to Cardiff.

It was a similar story for the development ladies, who also made the trip to Port Talbot to face Goytre’s development squad in the earlier kick off. Manager Chris Hooper saw his side come away as 14-0 winners as the impressive start to the Bluebelles’ development campaign continues. Despite the high scoreline it was the clean sheet that was particularly pleasing for the development coaching staff.

Next weekend’s fixtures will see the first team face a tough test away to a  Cwmbran Celtic side who have made a number of new signings over the summer. The development ladies also face a tough test with a home fixture against Cardiff City ladies development.

Report by Francesca Howorth, Cardiff Bluebelles Media Officer.

Cardiff Bluebelles kindly sponsored by KCS Transport,  Blue Ridge Canine Academy and Priority Childcare.

Bluebelles maintain 100% start to the season

Cardiff Bluebelles 2018/19 First Team Squad

Cardiff Bluebelles 4 Pontypridd Panthers 0

Sunday 9th September 2018

Cardiff University Fields

SWWGL Division 1

After last weekend's SWWGL Division 1 opener saw the Bluebelles first team pick up all three points, the ladies went into Sunday's fixture vs Pontypridd Panthers looking to maintain their good start to the season.

The Bluebelles were in a confident mood ahead of the tie and an overnight downpour gave the freshly cut grass on the Uni Fields the perfect surface for the encounter.

The Cardiff based team started the game on the front foot and showed immediately why they were so dominant last weekend, with the opening goal coming inside the first five minutes. A superb passage of football, where every player touched the ball, saw Caitlin Thomas open her account for the season with a neat finish giving the almost 6ft Ponty keeper no chance. The home side were to then push on and put themselves further in front as Naomi Coulson also netted her first of the season to make it 2-0.

The football on display from the Bluebelles was excellent as they dominated the game with their passing game in full swing . The unchanged back four of Hannah Moger, Shanice Donovan, Holly Jenkins and captain Becky Cornelius, put in another assertive performance to limit their opponents chances and the only shot of the game from the Ponty side was comfortably dealt with by Kirsty Lewis in goal.

The link up play between the midfield trio of Beth O’Donnell, Charlene Hewings and Becca Jones saw the Bluebelles totally dominating the middle of the park and just before the half time whistle, Molly Chapman made it 3-0. A flowing move down the right hand side saw the ball crossed in to perfection, Chapman beat her marker and produced a neat finish to open her account for her new club.

The second half of the game brought much of the same as the Bluebelles continued to dominate possession. Despite creating several good chances, the Bluebelles found the away side's keeper in good form, with the woodwork also keeping the scoreline down. The only goal of the second half came late on as substitute Amelia Davidson scored her first goal in senior football, a moment that was celebrated by the whole squad. A well worked set piece found Davidson who made no mistake from ten yards out.

The tie finished 4-0 as the Bluebelles made it 6 points from 6 and recorded a first clean sheet of the season.

Next up the ladies face their first away trip of the season as they travel to face Goytre United's first team next Sunday. The development ladies, who had no fixture this week, will also travel to the same venue to face Goytre's development squad in a Welsh Women's Development League clash.  The development game kicks off at 12pm followed by the first team's Division 1 fixture at 2pm.

Report by Francesca Howorth, Cardiff Bluebelles Media Officer.

Cardiff Bluebelles kindly sponsored by KCS Transport,  Blue Ridge Canine Academy and Priority Childcare.

Bluebelles begin 2018/19 season in style

Cardiff Bluebelles 2018/19 First Team

Cardiff Bluebelles 7 Goytre United 1

Sunday 2nd September 2018

Cardiff University Fields

SWWGL Division 1

With a summer of big change at the club, and a superb pre-season under their belts, Cardiff Bluebelles FC’s newly formed first team began their 2018/19 South Wales Women’s and Girls League Division 1 campaign this weekend. With a change in coaching staff and a raft of new signings, the team head into the league campaign with title ambitions.

Goytre United Ladies were the first visitors the team’s home ground, at Cardiff University Fields in Llanrumney, as the Bluebelles ran out comfortable 7-1 winners.

The game kicked off at a fast pace with both teams looking to start with intent and get on to the front foot. The home team carved out a number of chances in the opening stages and the pressure paid off as the Bluebelles opened the scoring. Great build up play through the midfield found Molly Chapman just inside the box who turned superbly, before being fouled by the Goytre defender.

The referee correctly pointed to the spot and Becca Jones stepped up to slot the resulting penalty into the top right hand corner.

The Bluebelles continued their fast start to the game, creating numerous chances but they were unable to capitalise on their dominance and were punished, as against the run of play Goytre pulled one back. A turn over in possession just inside the home teams half led to a quick break away, and a good finish from the young Goytre forward past Bluebelles’ keeper Meg Davies drew the scores level.

To their credit, the equaliser didn’t seem to affect the home side who kept on the front foot and mid-way through the first half new signing Chantelle Chapman officially opened her account for the club. Chapman, who joined the club from Penybont Ladies in the summer, had been in superb goal scoring form during pre-season and continued this into the team’s first competitive fixture. Chapman found the net with a composed finish following an inch perfect ball over the defence from Beth O’Donnell, who pulled the strings in midfield all game.

More chances came and went for the Bluebelles, with young fullback Holly Jenkins and forward Naomi Coulson causing havoc on the left wing. Just before half time Coulson was brought down 30 yards from goal as the Goytre defender struggled to keep up with her quick footwork. Up stepped dead ball specialist Becca Jones, who gave the keeper no chance with her free kick finding the top corner to make it 3-1 to the Bluebelles heading into the break.

The second half was to bring more of the same, with the Cardiff based team dominating possession and not letting Goytre see much of the ball. Captain Becky Cornelius and her central defensive partner, Shanice Donovan, kept any Goytre threat at bay putting in an assured performance on their first start together.

Mid-way through the second half Charlene Hewings replaced the creative Caitlin Thomas and she was to make her mark almost immediately. As the ball was cleared by the Goytre defence, Hewings arrived to volley the Bluebelles 4^th goal of the afternoon into the net from 25 yards out. Next up to also open her account for her new club was Hannah Moger as she capped off an action packed display to make it 5-1.

In the closing stages, further goals were to be added as Chantelle Chapman slotted home her second of the match after a brilliant piece of individual skill, before Hewings broke free from the physical Goytre defence and kept her composure with a neat finish. A few final chances came for the Bluebelles but the Goytre keeper made several saves as the game finished 7-1.

Newly appointed first team manager Adam Hewings was naturally delighted with the display his side put on and will hope the ladies can build on a great performance and result next Sunday. The Bluebelles welcome Pontypridd Panthers to the University Fields for a 2pm kick off.

The Bluebelles’ development side also put in an impressive display to cap off a great afternoon for the club. They beat Welsh Premier League side Britton Ferry’s development squad in Chris Hooper’s first game in charge.

Report by Francesca Howorth, Cardiff Bluebelles Media Officer.

Cardiff Bluebelles kindly sponsored by KCS Transport,  Blue Ridge Canine Academy and Priority Childcare.