Not to be for Wrexham in Welsh Cup Final

BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP FINAL 2024-25

Cardiff City 3 (Lily Billingham 6, Shannon Evans 29, Fiona Barry 74)
Wrexham 1 (Abbie Iddenden pen 31)

It was a case of ‘what if’s’ for Wrexham as they lost in the Welsh Cup Final to Cardiff City for a second consecutive season.

Trailing 2-1 on the hour, the North Wales side had a golden chance to equalise when they won a second penalty for a foul on Ava Suckley in the box.

Abbie Iddenden had scored from the spot for the Dragons in the first half, but on this occasion Suckley stepped up and her poorly-hit kick was easily kept out by Ceryn Chamberlain.

Soon after, Wrexham’s Lili Jones rattled the bar with a tremendous strike.

Had Wrexham made it 2-2, anything could have happened, but it was the Bluebirds who went on to grab the vital next goal and lift the Welsh Cup for a fourth consecutive time.

City struck early when Lily Billingham’s long range strike could only be helped into the net by keeper Liz Craven.

Brooke Cairns had an effort cleared off the line for the Dragons before on 29 minutes Shannon Evans was far too easily allowed to head home Ffion Price’s free kick for 2-0.

Wrexham were back in it less than two minutes later when Chamberlain clumsily brought down Iddenden.

It was Iddenden who scored from the spot for her 17th goal of the season, giving Steve Dale’s side a foot back in the contest before half time.

Cardiff started the second half strongly and it was against the run of play when Wrexham won the penalty which Suckley unfortunately missed.

Then Jones hit the bar and it began to look like it would not be Wrexham’s day.

Sure enough, City made it 3-1 on 74 minutes when a fine ball by Billingham released Fiona Barry, who calmly rounded the advancing Craven and found the empty net.

Sub Rosie Hughes, Suckley and Jones all had late efforts on target for the reds, but this was Cardiff’s afternoon.