FLASHBACK: When Wrexham AFC Women were last in the Welsh Cup semi-finals

Wrexham AFC Women are into the Welsh Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2014-15.

On that sunny March day at Victoria Park, Llanidloes, the North Wales side lost 4-1 in extra time to Cardiff City – but the scoreline does not tell half the story.

Wrexham led 1-0 until the 89th minute when the aptly-named Lisa Bird equalised for the Bluebirds to force another half-hour.

Three members of the Dragons side back in 2015 are involved in the current Wrexham squad performing so well in the Adran Premier – Rebecca Pritchard, Delyth Morgan and Phoebe Davies.

This is how the semi-final in Powys played out eight years ago

Wrexham 1 (Rodger 38)
Cardiff City 4 (Bird 89 & 104; Morris og, Evans 119)

Wrexham were one minute away from a place in the FAW Women’s Cup Final only for Cardiff City to grab a last-gasp equaliser and then go on to win the tie 4-1 in extra time.

A close-fought semi-final at Llanidloes saw the Reds lead 1-0 at half time courtesy of a fine 38th-minute finish from midfield maestro Lyndsey Rodger.

Earlier, Rebecca Pritchard forced a good save out of City keeper Taylor Gould, while Shannon Evans’ swirling free kick hit the bar for the South Walians.

In the second half, only the heroics of then Wales Under-19 keeper Morgan kept the Bluebirds at bay.

Morgan pushed away an Evans free kick before denying the Cardiff danger-woman with her legs from close range.

The Wrexham stopper then kept out a Bird effort for a corner with just a minute remaining.

However, from the Evans flag-kick, Bird headed in the equaliser.

The Reds were holding their own in extra time before two quick goals at the end of the first period saw Cardiff establish a crucial 3-1 lead.

An unfortunate Julia Morris own goal and Bird’s skilful second put City in control.

Evans completed the scoring in the second period from a free kick to end Wrexham’s dreams.

List of women’s Welsh Cup Finals (venues in brackets – northern winning teams in bold, losing northern finalists in bold italics)

1992/93 Pilkington (Rhyl) 1-0 Inter Cardiff (Cardiff Arms Park)
1993/94 Pilkington 2-2 Inter Cardiff – Pilks won 4-2 on pens (Cardiff Arms Park)
1994/95 Inter Cardiff 1-1 Bangor City – Inter won 4-3 pens (Cardiff Arms Park)
1995/96 Newport Strikers 1-0 Bangor City – aet (Racecourse, Wrexham)
1996/97 Bangor City 3-0 Newcastle Emlyn (Park Avenue, Aberystwyth)
1997/98 Barry Town 3-0 Bangor City (Weirglodd, Rhayader)
1998/99 Barry Town 3-0 Newport Strikers (Haverfordwest)
1999/00 Barry Town 2-2 Bangor City – 3-0 to Barry on pens (Caersws)
2000/01 Bangor City 3-0 Newport Strikers (Newtown)
2001/02 Bangor City 4-2 Newport County (Caersws)
2002/03 Cardiff City 1-0 Bangor City
2003/04 Cardiff City 4-0 Newtown
2004/05 Cardiff City 4-1 Cardiff City Bluebirds
2005/06 Cardiff City 11-0 Pwllheli
2006/07 Cardiff City 6-1 Caernarfon Town
2007/08 Cardiff City 9-0 Wrexham
2008/09 Cardiff City 3-0 Caerphilly Castle
2009/10 Cardiff City 6-0 UWIC Ladies
2010/11 Swansea City 3-0 Caernarfon Town
2011/12 Cardiff City 1-1 UWIC Ladies – Cardiff won 4-2 pens (Port Talbot)
2012/13 Cardiff City 3-1 Cardiff Metropolitan
2013/14 Cardiff Met Ladies 4-0 Swansea City Ladies
2014/15 Swansea City Ladies 4-2 Cardiff City
2015/16 Cardiff City FC Women 5-2 MBi Llandudno
2016/17 Cardiff Met Ladies 2-2 Swansea City (Met won 5-4 pens)
2017/18 Swansea City Ladies 2-1 Cardiff City Ladies
2018/19 Cardiff Met Ladies 2-0 Abergavenny Women
2019/20 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020/21 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021/22 Cardiff City FC Women 2–0 Cardiff Met
2022/23 Cardiff City FC Women 4–0 Briton Ferry Llansawel

Cup wins

10 – Cardiff City
3 – Bangor City, Barry Town, Swansea City, Cardiff Met, Cardiff City FC Women
2 – Pilkington (Rhyl)
1 – Inter Cardiff, Newport Strikers