On Sunday the 16th of February, Cardiff City took on Barry Town in the Quarter Finals of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium. The Bluebirds had taken on Barry Town twice in the Genero Adran Premier Season beating them 3–0 at home and 3–1 away. Cardiff City currently hold the title and are also looking to win the league. After being knocked out of the Adran Trophy 1–0 by The New Saints in December it was clear that Cardiff City had to beat Barry Town.
The attendance at the stadium was very low but the diehard Cardiff City fans were singing away at the top of their lungs. Due to this fixture being a cup match there were no ball girls, so I became a part-time ball girl while writing my match report and taking photos. It is never a dull day when covering the mighty Bluebirds!
The Cardiff City defence was very strong despite numerous counter attacks in the first five minutes. In the 8th minute Cardiff City had a corner which was taken well by Price, but the Bluebirds couldn’t find the back of the net. A poor ball by Barry Town gave the Bluebirds a chance to counter and in the 13th minute Fiona Barry put Cardiff City ahead with a super strike. Barry Town were desperate for an equaliser and made some very aggressive tackles on the Bluebirds. In the 25th minute, Cardiff had a free kick, which found the head of the Bluebirds’ Number 6 Megan Bowen, and went just over the crossbar. She played a fantastic first half despite the linesman making a poor decision and giving Barry Town a throw, nearly leading to an equaliser in the 41st minute just before half-time. At half-time the score was 1–0.
The Bluebirds kicked off the second half and Number 14 Shannon Evans took a great shot, but Barry Town’s goalkeeper made a phenomenal save. It would have been an excellent goal to give the 2–0 lead. In the 55th minute Mackenzie Olden went for goal but once again Barry Town’s goalkeeper made a great save. Cardiff City were knocking on the door and in the 64th minute Molly Kehoe scored the second goal for the Bluebirds assisted by Mackenzie Olden.
Barry Town were getting very frustrated with their Number 8 Danielle Brown getting yellowcarded after a dangerous tackle on Molly Kehoe in the 68th minute. The free kick was taken well by Price and led to Cardiff City’s third goal scored by Mackenzie Olden. Barry looked very tired; the passes they made were poor and incomplete. Cardiff City were not finished yet their attack was powerful. In the 81st minute Cardiff’s Number 39 Eliza Collie goes for goal, but it hits the post. The ball went out for a corner taken by Price which found Laura Curnock and gave Cardiff a 4–0 victory. The full-time score was 4–0!
The semifinal draw will take place on Wednesday where Cardiff City will potentially play The New Saints, Wrexham, or Pontypridd on Sunday 16th of March.