Stunning show brings champions Wrexham maximum points at the Cardiff City Stadium

GENERO ADRAN PREMIER – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Cardiff City 2 (Richards 19, Olden 41)
Wrexham 4 (Cook 5, Thomas 36, Barker 54, Sadler 90)

Wrexham made a big early statement about their ability to retain the Adran Premier title when they triumphed 4-2 at last season’s nearest challengers Cardiff City.

Following an opening day 4-0 home thrashing of Aberystwyth Town, Jenny Sugarman’s side scored another four goals in a cracking result at the CCS.

Wrexham took the lead after just five minutes courtesy of a goal from former Cardiff player Mikayla Cook.

Katie Barker hooked the ball across from the right byline and Amy Reidford set up Cook to slot into the corner.

Cardiff levelled on 19 minutes when Haile Richards hoofed the ball into the roof of the net after the visitors failed to clear a cross from the right.

Barker lashed across the face of goal before the champions regained the lead on 36 minutes.

Lydia Sallaway drilled in a brilliant low cross from the left and Natasha Thomas applied a clinical finish.

The hosts equalised on 41 with an extremely fortunate goal, Mackenzie Olden’s left foot strike taking a huge deflection off Maria Francis-Jones past wrong-footed keeper Lucy Farrell.

Josie Smith’s header was brilliantly kept out by the Cardiff keeper before Thomas rifled an effort off the post just before the break.

Last season’s top-scorer Barker put Wrexham in front for a third time in the 54th minute when she cut in from the right, outwitted two defenders and netted with a left-foot stunner.

Only a magnificent Farrell save denied Olden an equaliser from a 25-yard free kick.

Wrexham made the game safe when Phoebe Davies broke down the left and sent in a pinpoint cross which Evie Sadler finished magnificently to seal the points.

To complete a miserable day for Cardiff, Richards was sent off for a second yellow.