CHAMPIONS! Wrexham AFC Women rule the roost!

GENERO ADRAN PREMIER – MARCH 29, 2026

Wrexham 4 (Barker 45+1, 48, 84 pen, Knox 79)
Cardiff City 1 (Cook 6)

ATTENDANCE: 2918

Step aside Cardiff City and make way for the new champions – Wrexham AFC Women!

While the Bluebirds had reigned supreme over the past three Adran Premier seasons, today their dominance ended as Wrexham were crowned top-flight title winners for the first time.

It is a landmark day for North Wales women’s football and Jenny Sugarman’s stars truly did it in style.

Since they were elevated to Tier 1, Wrexham had previously generally played second fiddle to Cardiff City and Swansea City.

Last season the Red Dragons proved they could conquer the ‘big two’ without landing the major prizes, but in the current campaign they have claimed an historic double and knocked the South Walians well and truly off their perch.

Sugarman’s signings have made a huge difference, but also the players remaining at the club in 2025-26 have hit new heights. It has been very much a squad effort.

Needing a win over arch rivals Cardiff today to be confirmed as champions, Wrexham did not enjoy the best of starts.

In the sixth minute, a dubious free kick was awarded to the Bluebirds inside the D and Mikayla Cook’s strike was past keeper Liz Craven in a flash. Cardiff’s players made a point of celebrating in front of Wrexham fans, but it was too early for the customary cockiness.

For a long spell, the hosts struggled to find their feet; their passing was awry and City’s sharpness upset their rhythm.

However, the last five minutes of the first half saw the version of Wrexham their adoring fans have become used to cheering on throughout this magnificent season.

Mariam Mahmood made a dazzling run at the away defence but lashed her shot high and wide.

Top-scorer Katie Barker was then denied by a headed block from Shannon Evans as the hosts turned up the heat.

Cardiff keeper Ceryn Chamberlain had already almost caused a calamity before she was caught napping again in added time.

Receiving the ball back from defender Megan Bowen, Chamberlain was closed down by Barker, who charged at her attempted clearance, the ball flew up into the air, bounced, and when Wrexham’s top markswoman turned around she was able to find the empty net.

A real sickener for Cardiff and they never recovered.

HALF-TIME: 1-1

The next goal was crucial in this game and a highly-charged Wrexham made sure they got it three minutes into the second half.

Faye Knox broke to the byline from the left and her low centre rebounded fortunately off defender Nieve Jenkins into the path of Barker, who was never going to miss.

Craven comfortably held an awkward Cook free kick that bounced in front of her, before Chamberlain did well at the other end to deny Barker her treble.

Knox was now running the show, the marauding midfielder testing Chamberlain with a 20-yarder before another long range attempt clipped the crossbar.

It was no surprise at all when Knox made it 3-1 on 79 minutes. Sub Rosie Hughes was through, delayed her shot, but showed composure to slip the ball across to Knox, who walloped in her 19th goal in 22 appearances for the club she joined in October 2025,

And the icing on the cake arrived in the 84th minute when Barker was felled in the box by a combination of Kerry Walklett and sub Helen Evans – penalty.

Barker converted with ease for her hat-trick and 24th league goal of the campaign – an all-time Adran Premier record in a single season – and 28th in all competitions.

Cardiff’s Shannon Evans was dismissed in the 86th minute for a second yellow after she took out Barker.

Sub Madison Lloyd went close to a consolation for the capital team with a classy volley against the bar, while Hughes could have made it five when through on goal, but Chamberlain denied her.

The final whistle blew to amazing scenes among the home players, management and fans.

It really has happened – Wrexham AFC Women are the 2025-26 Adran Premier champions – and deservedly so.

WREXHAM

Liz Craven, Phoebe Davies, Jodie Bartle, Maiam Mahmood (Olivia Fuller 77), Sarah Harvey, Josie Smith, Ava Suckley (Natalie Clark 87), Katie Barker (Evie Sadler 90), Faye Knox, Lili Mai Jones (Rosie Hughes 77), Maria Francis-Jones. Subs: Sophie Nash (GK), Erin Lovett, Carra Jones