Wrexham clip Bluebirds’ wings for second weekend running – now they will target a three-timer
GENERO ADRAN PREMIER – FEBRUARY 28
Cardiff City 1 (Olden 73)
Wrexham 3 (Knox 55, Barker 78 & 87 pen)
Two down one to go….
Can Wrexham AFC Women make it an unprecedented treble next weekend and beat the mighty Cardiff City for the third time in a row?
Last week, it was the Genero Adran Trophy the Red Dragons won on penalties against the Bluebirds to land the biggest honour in their short history – so far.
On Saturday it was maximum reward in the league for Jenny Sugarman’s side at Cardiff City Stadium, a win which edged the pride of North Wales to within a point of Iain Darbyshire’s leaders with a game in hand.
Next Sunday, Wrexham will aim to do it all again as they lock horns with Cardiff for a third consecutive weekend – this time in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup semi-finals. Sugarman’s stars will be out for revenge, having lost the last two national cup finals to the capital team.
While the Adran Trophy success signalled a major first for Wrexham, Saturday’s league triumph was arguably an even bigger statement.
The Dragons were out to prove that trophy achievement was no fluke, while City were desperate to establish who is boss in the league.
Wrexham started well, but on 20 minutes they were indebted to Mikayla Wildgoose’s brilliance in sending what looked like a certain Cardiff goal out for a corner.
Chances were limited at both ends and come the interval it was goalless.
Ten minutes into the second half, it was ‘Golden Boots’ Faye Knox who fired the visitors ahead.
Since joining the club in October, virtually everything the North Walian midfielder has touched has turned to gold. Her penalty had clinched the Trophy the weekend before, and the Cymru U19 international and former Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers player made it 14 goals in 17 matches for her new club when she cut in from the left and fired a shot perfectly into the top right corner.
Cardiff were never going to cave in, and in typical fashion Mackenzie Olden levelled the match on 73 minutes.
However, this is the Wrexham of 2025-26, the season where they have recruited arguably the most natural goal-getter to represent the team yet.
Katie Barker firstly threatened with a 75th-minute effort which was tipped out for a corner by the outstretched Ceryn Chamberlain.
Three minutes later, Barker scored a similar goal to Knox’s superb effort to restore the visiting lead, Ava Suckley with the assist.
In the 84th minute, Wrexham substitute Mariam Mahmood was fouled in the box and Barker made no mistake when she stepped up to make it 3-1 and boost her total to 21 goals in 21 games for the club she joined in the summer.
What a win for the Pride of North Wales!
Wrexham
Liz Craven, Phoebe Davies, Jodie Bartle (c), Mikayla Wildgoose, Maria Francis-Jones, Faye Knox (Nat Clark 89), Josie Smith, Sarah Harvey, Katie Barker, Rosie Hughes (Lili Jones 64), Ava Suckley (Mariam Mahmood 78)
Subs not used: Olivia Fuller, Erin Lovett, Carra Jones, Chloe Ankers (G).