Cardiff City will go head-to-head with Swansea City in an FAW Cup final this season.
The Bluebirds won 1-0 against Cyncoed to clinch their place against Swansea in the Women’s Cup final.
Alana Murphy scored the only goal of the match just before half-time at Rhiw Ddar Stadium, Taffs Well.
Cyncoed’s Caitlin Bevan had an early chance, but Siobhan Walsh tracked back for Cardiff and cut out the danger.
Clare Daley had another Cyncoed chance after 27 minutes when goalkeeper Ceryn Chamberlain moved out quickly to parry the shot.
The Bluebirds had chances of their own and took one when Murphy’s accurate chip dipped over goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan and into the net after 42 minutes.
Cardiff might have scored more, but O’Sullivan saved well from Lisa Owen, while Murphy shot just over from 20 yards and then fired past the keeper only for defender Jessica Williams to cover and clear.
That chance came after Murphy linked superbly with Lucy McDonough to create the opportunity.
It is the first time in three years Cardiff have qualified for the final. Their last appearance was also against Swansea, who lifted the trophy after a 4-2 win.
Manager Joel Hutton and his Cardiff team go through to play Swansea City, who won their semi-final 5-1 against Port Talbot Town.
The Bluebirds started their run to the final with a 4-1 win against Dafen Welfare in the first round, but were then knocked out of the competition by Welsh Premier League leaders Cardiff Metropolitan.
Met were then expelled from the competition for fielding an ineligible player, Cardiff were reinstated and won against Abergavenny in the last eight.
Cardiff appealed for a penalty when the ball seemed to strike Cyncoed captain Holly Broad on the hand, but the referee waved play on.
Cyncoed Ladies manager Fern Burrage put herself on for the final 20 minutes, playing through midfield, but Cardiff saw out the match to keep their clean sheet.
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Thomas (Jones 63), May (Broadley 67), Daley, Walsh (capt), Guard, Burne, Underdown, Owen, McDonough (Davies 82), Murphy. Subs not used: Evans, Wathan.
Cyncoed Ladies: O’Sullivan, Jenkins, Williams, Broad (capt), Davies (Grant 40), Bevan, Sandford, Hill (Moulton 45), Pervin-Davies, Daley (Burrage 76). Subs not used: Northmore.
In the Welsh Women’s Premier League Abergavenny won 1-0 against leaders Cardiff Met. Maxine Mudge scored after 40 minutes and sent Met crashing to their first defeat in 14 league fixtures.
Mudge struck when goalkeeper Sara Moreira saved from a free-kick, but could not on and the Abergavenny player fired home.
Abergavenny jumped above Cardiff City, who were on cup duty, into fourth place.
Swansea won their semi-final 5-1 against Port Talbot Town at Penybont FC.
The teams had already met twice in the Orchard Welsh Premier League this season with the Swans winning 4-0 victors away, while they drew 2-2 in the return.
Swansea went ahead after 24 minutes when Jodie Passmore’s shot was blocked by goalkeeper Bethan Ellis and Stacey John-Davis turned the loose ball into goal.
Passmore doubled the lead when she connected with Sarah Adams’ cross and after Port Talbot’s Vicki Stratton hit the woodwork, City made it 3-0 with Adams netting at the second attempt, following up her lob which hit the crossbar.
Katy Hosford headed in a Passmore cross to make it 4-0, while Terri Beddows pulled one back from a penalty spot after 57 minutes.
John-Davis completed the scoring with Swansea’s fifth.
Results:
FA of Wales Women’s Cup semi-final: Cardiff City FC 1, Cyncoed 0.
Orchard Welsh Premier League: Abergavenny 1, Cardiff Met 0; Caernarfon Town v Llandudno, postponed; Caldicot Town v Port Talbot Town, postponed.
Orchard Welsh Women’s Premier League fixtures
Sunday, March 18: Caldicot Town v Abergavenny Town, Cardiff Metropolitan v Cardiff City FC, Port Talbot Town v Llandudno, Rhyl v Caernarfon Town, Swansea City v Cyncoed.
Welsh Women’s Premier League leading scorers
1 Shannon Evans (Cardiff City FC) 11
2 Jodie Passmore (Swansea City FC) 10
3 Lyndsey Davies (Abergavenny Women) 9
4 Louisha Doran (Llandudno) 9
5 Katy Hosford (Swansea City FC) 9
6 Ashleigh Harris (Caldicot Town) 8
7 Jasmine Simpson (Cardiff Metropolitan FC) 8
8 Stacey John Davis (Swansea City FC) 7
9 Vicky Stratton (Port Talbot Town FC) 6
11 Kitty Wells (Cardiff Metropolitan FC) 6
12 Naomi Clipston (Cardiff Metropolitan FC) 6
