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Cascade Ladies have started 2025 with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Caldicot Town Women in the Adran South.

It was a familiar tier two match-up, with the sides having met 11 times in recent seasons – Cascade having won most of those encounters.

On a sunny Sunday at the Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, the hosts made lightwork of their opponents once again, with goals from Vicky Beddows, Olivia Townsend, Erin Parry, and a Caldicot own-goal giving Cascade the victory.

Kick-off

Just seconds into the match, Cascade had a brilliant chance to open the scoring when Clare Daley’s ball over the top found Vicky Beddows on the edge of the area.

Beddows took a touch to settle herself, before finishing neatly into the far corner past the onrushing Abigail Footner.

A dream start for the hosts, who were looking to double their lead quickly.

Caldicot had other ideas though, and were nearly in themselves when Chrystalla Moreton left a back pass short.

Goalkeeper Bethan Connolly missed it, but fortunately another defender was there to clear.

Moreton had a chance to make up for the mistake when a well-worked corner to the back-post was nodded just wide.

Moments later, her brilliant ball through set-up the second goal – a lovely pass to captain Annaliese Lewis down the right.

Lewis’ first-time cross found Olivia Townsend in the middle and her strike was good enough to beat the keeper and make it 2-0.

Caldicot were far from out of it, captain Millie Pearce had her first decent attempt of the day when a shot from the edge of the area clipped the top of the bar.

The visitors were struggling to create any sustained attacks however, partly due to the Cascade high-line which was very well disciplined and caught most attackers out.

With half-time approaching, a cross from Lewis once again, this time from a free-kick, threatened the Caldicot box.

China Cooper-Jones was there to clear, but couldn’t get enough contact on the ball and flicked it into her own net. 3-0 at the break.

Second-half

It was a fast start to the half for Caldicot, Pearce again with an effort, this time one she should have tucked away.

Bar the outstretched leg of Connolly, it would have been a goal. A great save down low by Cascade’s number one with the ball heading into the bottom corner.

The resulting corner almost led to a goal too. Connolly this time missed the punch away, and gave Cooper-Jones a chance to score one up the right end. It was not to be though as she headed wide.

The visitors soon regretted those missed opportunities when Moreton was away down the left before firing a lovely cross to the far post.

It beat the defenders and keeper to find Erin Parry there waiting. She couldn’t miss from a yard out and it was 4-0 after an hour.

Pearce had her third and final effort shortly after with Caldicot desperate to get something going, but the long shot was saved comfortably by Connolly.

The game remained open until the end, but Cascade held onto the clean sheet and were well worthy of their comfortable victory.

They sit fourth of seven after that win with a game in hand over top-of-the-table Cwmbran Celtic Women.