Gwalia United put on a clinical display to knock out Swindon Town Women in the Adobe FA Cup. Goals from Cori Williams-Mills, Ellie Sargent, and a brace from Casi Gregson helped the Welsh side to 4 – 1 victory in the first round. Ellie Sargent gave Gwalia the lead in the 8th minute. Cori Williams-Mills took the ball round the defense with a brilliant touch before laying it off to Sargent, who expertly placed it in the top corner.
Early in the game, Swindon’s Tori St Clara found success in behind and was denied a couple of times by some outstanding goalkeeping from Laura O’Sullivan Jones. But she did hit back five minutes later. Confusion at the back gave her a clear line at goal and she slid the ball past O’Sullivan Jones to equalise for Swindon. Swindon suddenly found themselves on top, but two goals a minute apart saw the home side take a decisive 3 – 1 lead. Williams-Mills converted a penalty after Ruby Scahill was taken down in the area, and Casi Gregson got on the scoresheet quickly after resulting in Gwalia United leading by two goals at half time.
Gregson put the tie to bed on the hour mark with her second goal of the match. Ruby Scahill showed tremendous work rate in her opponents’ area to gather a bouncing ball. She laid it off to Gregson who buried it powerfully from close range. Any thoughts of a comeback had been dismantled by that goal. Gwalia were clinical in attack, leaving no error unpunished. After that, Gwalia turned up the pressure, and Swindon could not get out of their half. That was until star player Annie Colston had a volley fly just past the post in the 85th minute. It was the first time Swindon’s top scorer had threatened in the game, a testament to Gwalia’s efforts in keeping her out. That was all she wrote as the referee blew for full-time. Gwalia United have started a crucial month with a convincing win against a strong Swindon team. They know they are in the draw for the second round but will now look towards their crucial league game away to Plymouth Argyle next Sunday.
Gwelwyd Gwalia United yn rhoi arddangosfa glinigol i guro Tîm Merched Tref Swindon allan o Gwpan FA Adobe ddoe. Roedd goliau gan Cori Williams-Mills, Ellie Sargent, a dwy gôl gan Casi Gregson yn ddigon i’r ochr Gymreig sicrhau buddugoliaeth o 4-1 yn y rownd gyntaf. Rhoddodd Ellie Sargent y blaen i Gwalia yn yr 8fed munud. Cymerodd Cori Williams-Mills y bêl o amgylch yr amddiffyn gyda chyffyrddiad rhagorol cyn ei rhoi allan i Sargent, a osododd hi’n fedrus yn y gornel uchaf.
Yn gynnar yn y gêm, llwyddodd Tori St Clara o Swindon i gael llwyddiant y tu ôl i’r amddiffyn ac fe’i gwrthodwyd sawl gwaith gan Laura O’Sullivan Jones, a wnaeth achubiadau rhagorol. Ond tarodd yn ôl bum munud yn ddiweddarach. Fe wnaeth dryswch yn yr amddiffyn roi llinell glir o flaen gôl iddi, ac fe lithrodd y bêl heibio i O’Sullivan Jones i gyfartalu dros Swindon. Daeth Swindon i’r blaen yn sydyn, ond cafodd y tîm cartref fantais bendant o 3-1 ar ôl dwy gôl mewn munud. Trawsnewidiodd Williams-Mills gic gosb ar ôl i Ruby Scahill gael ei thynnu i lawr yn yr ardal, ac yna daeth Casi Gregson ar y sgôr yn gyflym wedi hynny, gan adael Gwalia United ar y blaen o ddau gôl ar yr egwyl.
Rhoiodd Gregson y gêm i wely ar yr awr gyda’i hail gôl o’r gêm. Dangosodd Ruby Scahill waith caled anhygoel yn ardal ei gwrthwynebwyr i gasglu pêl yn neidio. Pasiodd hi i Gregson a’i gladdu’n bwerus o agos. Roedd unrhyw feddyliau am ymladd yn ôl wedi’u dinistrio gan y gôl honno. Roedd Gwalia yn glinigol yn yr ymosodiad, gan adael dim camgymeriad yn cosbi. Wedi hynny, cododd Gwalia’r pwysau, ac ni allai Swindon adael eu hanner. Hyd nes i’r chwaraewr seren, Annie Colston, saethu foli dim ond heibio’r postyn yn y 85fed munud. Dyma’r tro cyntaf i brif sgoriwr Swindon fygwth yn y gêm, tystiolaeth i ymdrechion Gwalia i’w chadw allan. Dyna’r cwbl wrth i’r dyfarnwr chwythu am amser llawn. Mae Gwalia United wedi dechrau mis hanfodol gyda buddugoliaeth argyhoeddiadol yn erbyn tîm cryf o Swindon. Maent yn gwybod eu bod yn y gafael ar gyfer yr ail rownd ond yn awr byddant yn troi eu sylw at eu gêm gynghrair bwysig i ffwrdd yn erbyn Plymouth Argyle ddydd Sul nesaf.
