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After leading Cardiff City Women U19s 2-0 at half-time in the Women’s Cup final, Cascade Ladies eventually went on to lose 6-5 in a penalty shootout.

The cup final at the SDM Glass Stadium, Bridgend, was watched by hundreds of fans on Sunday April 28.

It was a fast start for Cascade, who were 2-0 up inside 30 minutes thanks to goals from Ellis Lunn and Katie Davies.

The Bluebirds fought back through a Madison Lloyd brace to take things to penalties, but after misses from both sides, Mycah Morgan scored the winner to take home the silverware for Cardiff.

Kick-off:

It was difficult to know what to expect in this one. Cascade were up against a very talented Cardiff side who came into the final having lost just one game in their last 22 matches.

The Caerphilly-based side started on the front foot though. Physically bigger than most of their opposite numbers, Cascade were stronger in the tackle and winning the 50/50s.

Despite the promising start, it was the Bluebirds who had the first big chance of the game.

A ball broke from midfield and Demi Parry was away down the right. She took the shot on a little early though and put it onto the post from a way out.

Cascade responded well to the pressure, and continued to create chances down the other end of the pitch.

Mia Kemp was catching the eye in midfield. She’s never afraid to get stuck-in and make a tackle. Something that was needed regularly on the day.

Striker Ellis Lunn had a good chance at the back post with her head. Unmarked, she looked sure to score. Just wide though.

Lunn didn’t have to wait too long until she had another chance however, which she took brilliantly.

A ball through from just inside the Cascade half sent Lunn on her way in acres of space. It can be difficult to have that much time and score, but the number nine composed herself well and passed the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0.

There were warning signs after the goal for Cascade, who adopted an extremely high line.

They’d played it perfectly so far however, catching the Cardiff players offside on several instances. If someone did time it right though, the space in behind was huge.

It was still cascade who were looking the more dangerous side even after the goal. A series of corners were put onto the roof of the net by captain Katie Davies, until she got one just right.

An inswinger from the left, Davies’ cross flew over everyone including keeper Marnie Gingell into the far corner. Huge celebrations from Cascade who were two goals to the good.

It was nothing more than Cascade deserved. They had been the better side in the first-half, as Cardiff struggled to grapple with the high line.

Second-half:

It was a scrappy start to the second-half, which was fine for Cascade who were happy to protect their 2-0 lead.

Cardiff still struggled to find a balance between passing it around the back and playing it to the forwards, instead often overhitting balls that would either run-out of play or catch a player offside.

After an hour played, Cascade were hunting for the killer third goal. A superb ball over the top from Davies found Erin Parry through, but she was shrugged off the ball before getting a shot off.

The quality of Cardiff was beginning to show as fresh legs entered the pitch to press the Cascade back line high-up the pitch.

This paid off when a rare mistake at the back sent Bluebirds striker Lloyd on her way.

With half a pitch to eat-up, Lloyd made light work of the chance, and calmly finished into the far corner to make it 2-1 with 20 or so minutes to go.

Cascade looked a little unsettled after the goal. The high line had sunk back significantly and were now inviting pressure.

It might have been a quick brace from Lloyd if not for the determination of Charli Carroll to get back and make a last ditch tackle.

There’s nothing Carroll, or anyone, could have done about Lloyd’s next chance however. A carbon copy of the first goal, except this time the forward was slipped through by Brooke Arthur.

Once again, with all the time in the world, Lloyd picked her spot and slotted the ball away, this time at the near post to make it 2-2 with ten minutes to go.

It felt as though the Bluebirds were to go on and win this one, but Cascade had other ideas.

A ball over the top to Lunn was close to being offside but the flag stayed down. It just bobbled up on her though and her effort trickled wide after a deflection.

Cardiff were relentless now, and once again Lloyd was through having beaten the high line.

Bethan Connolly rushed out to meet the striker and saved brilliantly to keep her side in the tie.

The Bluebirds had a string of corners to end the game but Cascade hung-on to take it to penalties.

Penalties

Cascade stepped-up first and Melissa James fired her side into an early lead, before the dangerous Lloyd went next and missed her penalty.

The pressure was back on Cascade however when Hannah Moger missed her spot kick, and the score remained 1-1.

Both sides scored their next two penalties to make it 3-3, before Cascade’s Casey Thomas missed to give Cardiff a chance.

Both scored their next pens and so it fell to Cardiff’s Lucy Malin to win the shootout 5-4.

A great save from Connolly down to her right however kept Cascade in it.

Both teams scored the next two to make it 5-5, before Carroll had her effort saved by Gingell, and Cardiff once again had a chance to win it.

Mycah Morgan made no mistake this time, tucking home her penalty to win the final 6-5.

A huge shame for Cascade, who were the better side for large parts. That’s their season over, having finished runners-up in the Genero Adran South.