NORTH WALES SALUTES YOU: Adran Trophy joy as Wrexham’s women lift biggest prize in their history

GENERO ADRAN TROPHY FINAL 2025-26 – FEBRUARY 22, 2026

Wrexham 2 (Suckley 25, Francis-Jones 80)
Cardiff City 2 (Evans 6, Cook 45+1)
(Wrexham won 4-2 on penalties)

How great was it to see Wrexham get one over on the mighty Cardiff City in a major final on Sunday?

From a North Wales football point of view, it has to be one of the finest achievements ever by a club side representing our region.

There has long been an arrogance and somewhat superior attitude from South Wales clubs towards their northern counterparts. Part of that comes from being a favoured region when football’s administrators get involved.

While Cardiff City have been very successful over the years and deservedly so, there has always been a certain lack of humility surrounding their wins over North Wales sides.

We don’t beat them often, so Sunday’s triumph was really special. Not so much a chance to gloat at last, but certainly an opportunity for some well-merited satisfaction.

Of course Cardiff will be out for revenge; there’s still a Welsh Cup semi-final and two league matches to come in a thrilling title race, but after Sunday the Bluebirds will know more than previously that Wrexham are not a team to be dismissed.

In 12 previous meetings with the City since entering the Adran Premier in 2023-24, the Red Dragons had only beaten Iain Derbyshire’s side twice – and that was back-to-back in the league’s phase 2 last season.

The last two Welsh Cup finals between the teams had gone Cardiff’s way, with Wrexham never really reaching the heights they were capable of in either showpiece.

However, Sunday was different, This was a largely new-look Wrexham under Jenny Sugarman, a coach appointed at the start of this season with a high pedigree – and she has delivered instant success.

New signings this term have all been outstanding, but the Adran Trophy triumph was also down to impressive displays from players who were at the club before the start of Sugarman’s reign.

Liz Craven for one. A goalkeeper who arrived at Wrexham last season and truly made her mark for the history books by saving two penalties in the shoot-out at Bangor City Stadium.

And then there was Ava Suckley, a local girl whose association with the club at senior level goes back to 2022-23, but who really shone brightest last season in a forward partnership with Abbie Iddenden.

Suckley’s magical chip over an admittedly at fault keeper Ceryn Chamberlain in Sunday’s final got the pride of North Wales back into the game.

As for new faces. how about the most recent signing Maria Francis-Jones, scorer of a wonder goal on debut to force spot-kicks and then a successful taker of Wrexham’s third pen.

GENERO ADRAN TROPHY HIGHLIGHTS…..

6th minute: Early strike for Cardiff, Shannon Evans heading in a Mackenzie Olden corner – Wrexham 0 Cardiff City 1

Cardiff chance: Craven gets down well at her near post to deny Lily Billingham

Bluebirds go close: Olden inswinging corner has the Wrexham defence in panic, but they somehow survive and clear the danger

25th minute: Josie Smith plays free kick to Suckley, who from 20 yards delivers a chip which Chamberlain can only palm into the net – Wrexham 1 Cardiff City 1

Wrexham effort: Lili Jones volleys inches wide

45+1: Cardiff regain the lead. Olden free kick comes back off the bar and Mikayla Cook pounces first to fire home. Wrexham 1 Cardiff City 2

HALF-TIME: Wrexham 1 Cardiff 2

Chance disappears for Wrexham: Lili Jones delivers low from right, Chamberlain can only palm the ball out, but no-one in red can take advantage

Close: Relief for Chamberlain as she fails to hold a modestly struck Sarah Harvey shot, and then has to act sharply to prevent the ball crossing the line

80th minute: A second equaliser for Sugarman’s side. Francis-Jones caresses a magnificent shot into the top corner after playing a sharp one-two with Suckley. Wrexham 2 Cardiff City 2

Should they have won it here?: Wrexham skipper Jodie Bartle’s free header from a corner flies a fraction wide.

FULL-TIME: Wrexham 2 Cardiff 2

PENALTIES

• Katie Barker’s poorly-struck penalty is easily saved by Chamberlain – 0-0
• Liz Craven gets down well to keep out Ffion Price’s effort – 0-0
• Sub Mariam Mahmood confidently strikes her kick high into the net – Wrexham 1-0
• Craven saves again – this time from Olden – Wrexham 1-0
• Josie Smith converts convincingly — Wrexham 2-0
• Skipper Hannah Power opens City’s account at last – Wrexham 2-1
• Francis-Jones is a two-time hero as she also nets a penalty – Wrexham 3-1
• Fiona Barry makes no mistake, sending Craven the wrong way – Wrexham 3-2
• Faye Hillier-Knox, an outstanding performer since joining in October, smashes in the deciding penalty – WREXHAM WIN 4-2!

WREXHAM AFC WOMEN – GENERO ADRAN TROPHY WINNERS 2025-26!

WREXHAM v CARDIFF CITY – HEAD TO HEAD

2025-26
Wrexham 2 Cardiff City 2 (Wrexham won 4-2 on pens – Genero Adran Trophy Final)
Cardiff City 2 Wrexham 1 (Adran Premier)
Wrexham 1 Cardiff City 1 (Adran Premier)
2024-25
Cardiff City 3 Wrexham 1 (Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final)
Wrexham 4 Cardiff City 2 (Adran Premier – Phase 2)
Cardiff City 1 Wrexham 2 (Adran Premier – P2)
Cardiff City 4 Wrexham 1 (Adran Premier – P1)
Wrexham 0 Cardiff City 2 (Adran Premier – P1)
2023-24
Cardiff City 2 Wrexham 0 (Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final)
Cardiff City 5 Wrexham 1 (Adran Premier – P2)
Wrexham 1 Cardiff City 6 (Adran Premier – P2)
Cardiff City 3 Wrexham 0 (Adran Premier – P1)
Wrexham 0 Cardiff City 3 (Adran Premier – P1)
Wrexham 1 Cardiff City 3 (Genero Adran Trophy)

LEAGUE WINS
Cardiff City 7 Wrexham 2
CUP WINS
Cardiff City 3 Wrexham 1