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Cascade Ladies put on one of their best-ever performances in a dominant 6-2 victory over league leaders Pontypridd United Women.

Looking to close the gap on Ponty at the top of the Adran South, Cascade knew they needed a big result on Sunday March 23.

They delivered that and more with an absolute clinic over Pontypridd at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, and are now tied with Ponty at the top with one game remaining.

Kick-off

Despite Pontypridd being the team to beat this season, Cascade started the game positively and full of confidence – perhaps buoyed by their 2-1 win away from home earlier in the season.

The first half chance fell to Vicky Beddows when a cross met the striker’s head, but it was a comfortable save for Amelia Forkings.

Trying to play some quick passes through the midfield, the visitors were struggling to deal with the Cascade high line, but did carve out one opportunity down the right in the early moments.

Quianna Wheeler found space, but her cutback cross was cleared over the bar before any attacker could get a shot away.

It was the hosts who were looking the more threatening side though, and the pressure eventually told through a lovely move down the right.

Megan Waite started the attack and played the ball inside to captain Annaliese Lewis, who could have shot, but wisely passed the ball once more to Chrystalla Moreton at the back post.

In all kinds of space, Moreton calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to give Cascade an early and deserved lead.

They were soon pushing for the second inside 30 minutes when Waite had an effort just wide of the goal.

The Ponty dugout looked frustrated as the quick passing moves were few and far between.

Cascade were happy enough to slow the game down even so early in the match, always a bit of a risk, but it was causing the visitors a headache.

Their job was made harder when Erin Parry found herself through on goal having batted off two Pontypridd defenders and firing her effort over the keeper at full stretch into the top of the net.

Still celebrating the second, the visitors almost answered straight back when Lauren Payne beat the press down the right. Her effort was dragged well wide though.

Waite was still giving right-back Ffion Simmonds a tough time, and knocked a ball past her to whip a beautiful ball onto the head of Moreton in the middle.

Jumping higher than the rest, the winger got a good connection and thumped her header past Forkings to make it 3-0 to celebrations of almost disbelief.

With half-time approaching, Ponty had a free-kick from miles out which Simmonds took responsibility for.

They’ll be glad she did too – it was some strike to beat everyone, including keeper Bethan Connolly, and find the top corner. 3-1 at the break, but still a job well done from Cascade’s point of view.

Second-half

Once again it was a fast and positive start to the half from Cascade, who looked keen to really put this one to bed.

Waite was once again at the centre of things down the right, she cut in before picking her head up and finding Moreton running across the defender in the centre.

It was as simple as you like from the 23-year-old, who netted her first hat-trick of the season.

Connolly was playing her part down the other end to stop any Ponty comeback; she made a couple of big saves against Nicole Fenton in a scramble which left a few needing treatment.

Every block and tackle made by Cascade was being celebrated like a goal. The whole backline were excellent on the day.

As the visitors became quite stretched, Moreton turned provider when away down the left, timing a pass inside to substitute Ellis Lunn.

With what was surely her first few touches, Lunn moved past two defenders and slotted past the keeper to make it 5-1.

Playing for pride now, Ponty had a chance to pull one back when a soft penalty was given against the hosts.

Lucy Jones stepped-up, but down early to her left Connolly was there to save and even catch the ball. Superb stuff from the Cascade number one.

Not done up the other end though, Cascade soon had their sixth of the afternoon when Lunn played a well-weighted ball from the left to fellow sub Olivia Townsend.

She made no mistake with the finish, tucking the ball away to scenes of ecstasy from the benches.

Another late penalty for the visitors saw captain Madison Williams grab a consolation, but it took no shine off a memorable win and performance from Cascade. 6-2 on the day.

With just one game left in the season, third-place Cascade travel to second-place Swansea University Women in early April, and are level with Ponty at the top.

They’ll need Ponty to drop points to Llanelli, but Cascade can still lift the Adran South title yet.