By Aled Biston
Cardiff Met may have their eyes firmly fixed on an impressive Welsh women’s football cup double, but Cardiff City skipper Siobhan Walsh claims the time is right for her club to get back on the winning trail.
Five times the two teams have met this season and the Bluebirds haven’t been able to pick up a win to date.
That list of failures also includes an agonising late defeat in the Genero Adran Trophy final.
But Walsh is ready to make it sixth time lucky today in the FAW Women’s Cup Final when the two teams go head-to-head for one last time this season at the SDM Glass Stadium in Bridgend (kick-off 2.00pm).
“I’ve been at the club for 10 years and in that time I’ve won the league and the FAW Women’s Cup, but there’s definitely space on the mantelpiece for another medal. I think it’s time,” said Walsh.
“Being in the final proves all the work we’ve put in. It’s been difficult with things stopping and starting, so to win a trophy this year would be the perfect end to the season.
“Our coach Iain (Derbyshire) is obviously doing something right because this is the best year we’ve had for a long time. All the players are buying into what he’s doing and we play good football across the park.
“Phoebie (Poole) is our top scorer, so she gets the goals for us, and our midfield is very important. They win some big battles for us.
A Q&A with @CardiffCityFCW! 🗣️
Find out more about the #TeamBluebirds camp ahead of Sunday’s #FAWWomensCup Final.
🎟️ Purchase your ticket at the SDM Glass Stadium, Penybont. pic.twitter.com/R2lqi1KUHQ
— FA WALES (@FAWales) April 23, 2022
“Everyone wants to win some trophies, but we all love this team. We play for Cardiff for a reason and to win a trophy together would be great.”
Met took home what is effectively the League Cup last month after a late winner by Emily Allen from the penalty spot, although it took a wonder save from goalkeeper Annabel Sweeney to stop an added time penalty from Poole taking the game into extra-time.
That was the fourth win they have notched over the Bluebirds this season in all competitions, with another game ending in a draw.
The Archers also finished one place above them in the league, finishing as runners-up to champions Swansea City.
Met coach Yzzy Taylor is one of the stalwarts at the Cyncoed-based club and can’t wait for another epic to unfold in front of the Sgorio TV cameras in Bridgend today.
“It was a crazy ending to the final last month and credit to them because they pushed us all the way, but we were buzzing to get our hands on the trophy after the late goal,” said Taylor.
“All of our focus is on the final, so it’s an exciting period for us. I’m sure it will be a great occasion to sign off the season and hopefully we will have plenty of people in attendance.”
The Archers are current holders of the trophy after a 2-0 win over Abergavenny in the 2019 final, but Cardiff City are certainly up for the challenge.
Huge good luck to @CardiffMetWFC today! @yzzytaylor @harris_kerry @EmilyAllen_9 @Stephturner109 @LTownsend2 @lauramayooo @tijaa92 …
the alumni are behind you🙌🏽🏹#Archers https://t.co/FW6oPW7geM
— Tash Harding (@tashharding09) April 24, 2022
Bluebirds boss Derbyshire is going into the game confident his side can secure some silverware this season.
“Our performance in the League Cup final was fantastic. I thought we were better team, but we didn’t get the rub of the green,” said Derbyshire.
“But now we’ve got to flip that loss and everyone’s focused and ready to put things right. We’ve got a squad of fantastic footballers.
“They’re good, technical footballers who understand the game tactically. You can feel that there’s something special happening at our club.”
But Cardiff Met have been in a rich vein of form this season and first team coach Kerry Harris has been impressed by her side’s performances.
“No matter the opposition, we aren’t a team who will ever look to sit off. We always go out for the win and a good win,” she said.
Hear from @CardiffMetWFC manager @YzzyTaylor and @CardiffCityFCW head coach @DarbyshireIain ahead of tomorrow’s #FAWWomensCup Final. ⬇️
🎟️ Tickets are available to purchase on matchday.#TeamArchers | #TeamBluebirds pic.twitter.com/KmYHTxq5BZ
— FA WALES (@FAWales) April 23, 2022
“Even if we have a decent lead, we’re always challenging players and asking questions as to what else they can do or how much further can we push ourselves.”
Met have scored 65 goals this season, the most in their league, and have only conceded 19 goals. They also beat Swansea in the Adran Trophy earlier in the season.
Once again the standard in the league has grown this season and crowds have gathered in their numbers to watch games.
There was a record attendance of more than 500 at one of Cardiff City’s matches this season and everyone is expecting more than that to turn out at Bridgend this afternoon.
The women’s game in Wales has more than 8,500 registered players.
Both teams in the final can boast a number of players who have Welsh honours. Met have a Cymru U19 cap in Jessie Taylor, while the Bluebirds boast three in Poole, Seren Watkins and Hollie Smith.
“The way the sport is developing is great and it’s good that we have an U19 league now because it encourages the players to keep on playing,” added Walsh, who first played for the Bluebirds at 17.
“When I was younger there was a huge gap between ending junior football at 16 and then going to women’s football. A lot of girls I know stopped playing then because the jump was so big.”
The two clubs first clashed in the final in 2010 when the Cardiff City side included such giants of the Welsh women’s game as Sophie Ingle and Natasha Harding. They won 6-0 on that day in Bridgend.
The Bluebirds have won the tile 11 times since it was inaugurated in the 1992-93 season.
Met are the current holders, having beaten Abergavenny 2-0 in 2019 and are chasing a fourth title.
