Grace Seren donned the gloves with international keeper Laura O’Sullivan away with the Welsh squad – and the result was a classic FA Cup tale.
CENTRE-FORWARD Grace Seren had some big gloves to fill when she stepped in for Welsh international ‘keeper Laura O’Sullivan.
The Cardiff City LFC striker has very limited experience as a goalkeeper with only a handful matches played in that position over her 10 year career.
But she made a mockery of her lack of big game experience between the posts by keeping a clean sheet and helping her team into the next round of the FA Cup.
“It’s not easy to fill the boots of Laura, she’s a fantastic keeper who has a ton of experience,” said Seren.
“I am very fortunate to play on the same team as her and also to have done some goalkeeping sessions with her, she has taught me a lot.
“It was a huge game for us so I just wanted to play a part in it in any way that I could, be that as a keeper for 90 minutes or a centre forward for 10.”
Cardiff City LFC are now through to the second-round proper of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup after beating Bridgwater Utd 4-0 in the first-round proper.
Laura Williams, Kerry Bartlett, Ingrid Adland and Ellie Sargent scored the goals in the game on November 13, earning the club £6,000 in the process.
There are 42 teams going into the second-round proper and the next prize up for grabs is £8,000 for progressing. In the next round Cardiff face Keynsham Town LFC, who they beat 6-0 in September.
“For independent clubs this goes along way,” said manager Jamie Phillip.
“I think there are certain achievements that cannot go unnoticed, and this is definitely one of those!
“We are very proud and excited to be representing such a great country like Wales.”
In the 2021 FA Cup Cardiff were defeated in the first-round proper by Exeter City and in 2020 they were knocked out of the tournament by Oxford United in their first game.
But this season Cardiff have had 10 consecutive wins across the FA Womens National League and the FA Vitality Cup.
Midfielder Chloe Lloyd, said: “It’s been a challenging few seasons for us but we are building something special here.”
Manager Phillip has full confidence in his team: “I think we can go all the way, I really do.
“The players deliver week in week out and never seem to disappoint us.”
The game against Keynsham kicks off at 1pm on November 27 at Ocean Park Arena, Cardiff.
For the first time in the club’s history tickets can be bought online: https://t.co/lriP2VHQ9I
Children can go for free and adult tickets are £2.
