​Llanfair prove too strong for Turfs as they retain the cup

Llanfair United commenced an Easter weekend of finals across mid Wales by defeating Tregaron Turfs 3-0 to retain the Central Wales Ladies Cup under the Victoria Avenue floodlights.

The Genero Adran North outfit made a strong start to the proceedings as Sophie Cook fired a sixth-minute effort over the crossbar from the edge of the Turfs' penalty area before captain Mary Bailey headed over the target from a corner three minutes later.

The Ceredigion club, appearing in their first final for 19 years, responded in the 12th minute when Delun Roberts latched on to a through ball, but could only direct her shot into the hands of Lucie Gwilt in the Llanfair goal.

Annwen Evans was denied from nearly 30 yards out four minutes later.

The holders should have opened the scoring in the 25th minute, when Sioned Roberts broke down the left flank and delivered a cross to the far post, but Tania Wylde directed the ball over the crossbar.

It was the turn of Cook to fire an effort over the target four minutes later after Wylde broke into the penalty area off the left wing and picked out her team-mate.

Turfs keeper Victoria Oakes was forced to turn Paris Schofield's 34th-minute shot behind for a corner before Cook cut inside off the left flank and fired a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

The Mount Field outfit were increasing the pressure on their opponents' goal as Bailey directed a close-range volley wide of the far post from a 37th-minute corner.

The Turfs could have opened the scoring five minutes later, when a misplaced backpass found Megan Thomas, but the striker directed her shot wide of an open goal.

However, it was Llanfair who broke the deadlock in the final minute of the first-half when Wylde latched on to a Millie Evans through ball to find the back of the net despite the best efforts of Oakes.

The holders doubled their lead eight minutes after the interval when Cook was picked out by Tonicha Lloyd to finish past Oakes from close-range.

Wylde netted her second goal of the evening in the 56th minute with an effort from the edge of the penalty area to hand the Montgomeryshire club a healthy advantage.

The Turfs attempted to respond to an imposing deficit with Thomas seeing a strike saved by Gwilt.

Wylde nearly completed her hat-trick six minutes later when she struck the crossbar and then directed the rebound over the goal before Schofield struck a 25-yard drive over the crossbar in the 75th minute.

The final then entered somewhat of a lull as the destination of the silverware appeared to be already decided. Although the Mount Field club had opportunities to add to their tally in the closing stages.

Oakes made a smart save to deny Paige Whitehouse from close-range in the second minute of stoppage-time before Bailey's volley from the edge of the penalty area was blocked.

Following the final whistle, Central Wales FA general secretary David Hinton-Jones presented the trophy to Mary Bailey and Jodie Carswell, before the celebrations commenced among the Llanfair United players and supporters.