The Archers head into quarter-final clash on hot streak of form
CARDIFF Met WFC take on Swansea City Ladies in the Adran Trophy quarter-finals on Sunday.
The Archers have been in fine form, winning all of their previous eight matches and scoring 40 goals in the process.
First team coach Kerry Harris, 41, started off as a player at Cardiff Met in 1999 before moving to coaching in 2002 and after overseeing the club for 20 years, is not surprised by the team’s rich vein of form.
She said: “No matter the opposition, we aren’t a team who will ever look to sit off. We always go out for the win and a good win.
“Even if we have a decent lead, we’re always challenging players and asking questions as to what else they can do or how much further can we push ourselves.”
Cardiff Met WFC is the most successful women’s football club in Wales. The club have won the Women’s Welsh Premier League on five occasions, which is more than any other team.
Each year the stakes are raised to perform at this elite level and this is not lost on the squad regardless of how long each player has been at the club.
Harris added: “We have a successful legacy at the club and every year, the new group has some big shoes to fill and high expectations to meet.
“It can be quite daunting and challenging knowing that for any player. But these players have dealt with that challenge, and in every match and session, we see these girls working tirelessly to protect and further develop that legacy.
“It’s a shared responsibility and aim which would be hard to achieve if there wasn’t a strong togetherness.”
Last time out, the team’s captain, Steph Turner, struck the winner late on against local rivals Cardiff City in a thrilling 4-3 victory.
“Squad depth has created healthy competition resulting in high intensity training which we are taking into games. Week on week our performances are improving, and we are growing in confidence,” said Turner, 31.
Met’s high-scoring performances have largely been inspired by their two top-scorers, Emily Allen and Laura-May Walkley, who have racked up 33 goals between them in all competitions.
Spearheading that potent attack is Elianna Chavez, who was named the first Adran Premier Star of the Week of 2022 thanks to her recent brace against Cardiff City.
Another key player in the team this season has been defensive midfielder Sophie Hancocks, 25, who has been a regular name in Met’s matchday squad.
“The run of good form gives us momentum and confidence each week to build on in training. Our last match highlights the resilience of the team to perform but also grind out results,” she said.
Sunday’s opponents are no strangers to Met, with the Cyncoed-based team’s only two losses this season coming against the Swans.
Both losses came in the Adran Premier League where Met were on the wrong side of 2-1 and 3-0 scorelines, flagging somewhat of a bogey team for The Archers.
“There’s always been a strong rivalry between both clubs which has helped us both get better as teams year by year. We’re always asking questions of each other, and one is always breathing down the other’s neck,” said Harris.
“We know that there’s only a small margin for error every season, but we also know it’s a long old season and we don’t let upsets at the start of the league campaign define the rest of the season.”
The cup clash represents an opportunity for The Archers to exact some revenge as well as progress to the semi-finals.
Looking ahead to the game, Harris said: “I’d like to see authenticity, and us playing the Cardiff Met way!
“It’s always a tasty game, but we want our players to be disciplined enough to not get carried away with all that and focus on executing our plan and doing things our way.”
The match will kick off at 2pm on Sunday and will be held at the Cyncoed Campus ground.
