INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP SEMI-FINAL: Wrexham pay price for first half misses
BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP SEMI-FINAL – MARCH 8, 2026
Wrexham 1 (Knox 90+5)
Cardiff City 2 (Cook 69, Bowen 78)
Wrexham paid the price for first-half missed chances as they allowed Cardiff to dominate after the break and claim a third Welsh Cup victory in as many seasons over the North Walians.
Having beaten the Bluebirds twice in a row, Jenny Sugarman’s side was unable to complete a memorable treble, the holders advancing to a meeting with Swansea City in the final.
It could have been a different story at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, had Wrexham not been so wasteful in front of goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Second half strikes from Mikayla Cook and Megan Bowen won it for the capital side.
Faye Knox ensured Wrexham’s record of scoring in every game this season was maintained as the midfielder’s curling cross sneaked in at the far post with seconds remaining.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
15 min: First clear chance of game, Mariam Mahmood releases Rosie Hughes, but the Wrexham striker shoots straight at keeper Ceryn Chamberlain
17 min: Wrexham’s Faye Knox breaks to left byline, her cross is cleared, Maria Francis-Jones blasts over bar
23 min: First save for Wrexham’s Liz Craven, She makes a good block at her near post from Fiona Barry. First corner of the game comes to nothing.
25 min: Close! Knox crosses from right, Jodie Bartle’s header comes back off the bar, Bartle is then brought down in the box going for the rebound, but no penalty given. Awful decision.
28 min; Great tackle from Phoebe Davies denies Barry as she races into the box.
30 min: Davies prominent again. She gave the ball away in midfield, but then produced a superb recovery tackle in the penalty area to thwart Lily Billingham.
39 min: How did Wrexham miss! Superb cross from Katie Barker following a corner, but somehow Mikayla Wildgoose heads over an open goal.
42 min: Brilliant first touch from Barker, but her second one is best forgotten – slices high and wide
44 min: Mahmood pulled back for offside when she clearly was not!
45 min: Kerry Walklett’s shoddy back-pass gives a corner to Wrexham.
HALF-TIME: Wrexham 0 Cardiff City 0
Wrexham on top but no breakthrough. Will they regret missed chances?
50 min: Katie Barker stinger is heading in but Megan Bowen blocks
51 min: Poor free kick from Knox allows Cardiff to break, Maddison Perrott’s weak shot is kept out by Craven’s legs
64 min: Craven gets a good hand on a Perrott cross, no Cardiff player is able to capitalise
66 min: Knox fires over from 20 yards. Not as many sights of goal for Wrexham in this half so far
69 min – GOAL: Shot or cross? A cross, the scorer late admitted. Doesn’t matter – Cardiff break the deadlock! MIKAYLA COOK receives the ball wide left from a clear corner and finds the net. Cardiff 1 Wrexham 0
78 min – GOAL: Barry free kick, MEGAN BOWEN’s effort creeps over the line. Cardiff 2 Wrexham 0
81 min: Mackenzie Olden shoots wide from a good position for the Bluebirds
84 min: Great chance for Phoebe Davies arriving late on the left of the box, but her shot is a huge letdown
85 min: Olden has one effort cleared off the line and hits the post from the follow up. Big opportunity to well and truly clinch it
90+5 min – GOAL: Consolation for Wrexham as FAYE KNOX crosses into the box and the ball sneaks in at the far post. Cardiff 2 Wrexham 1.