Celtic’s first season in the Adran League (the tier 2 equivalent to the Men’s Cymru South) looked to be a step too far a month into the season after conceding 20 goals in just 3 games against Briton Ferry & Cascade. However, the arrival of new signings, defender Elena Scrivens & striker Jade Crofts strengthened the side in key positions & a measure of the subsequent markedly improved competitiveness of the team was going 3-2 up at half time in the Welsh Cup against Premier side Swansea City before succumbing to 6 goals by ex-Celtic Welsh International Chloe Chivers.
Into the New Year, & with another key signing, Summer Bowen-Quirk. Celtic embarked on a 7-match unbeaten run in the league whilst in the SWFA cup semi-final versus Cascade we were within a whisker of reaching the final, but were forced into penalties by a 90+5 minute equaliser. Cascade won the shoot-out courtesy of a very harsh referee decision alleging keeper Alex Cridland moved before making a save. Celtic ended their season with a 2-1 defeat against unbeaten champions Briton Ferry to finish in a creditable 3rd place, a testament to the devotion of manager James Kinsella & his 1st team cohorts Sam Lewis & Conor James.
On the pitch, the backbone of the side was once again the 3 players who have now each racked up 11 seasons in the team since its inception: striker Fiona Anthony & midfielders Jodie Challenger & captain Eloise Meaney who scored 10 goals & 8 assists from centre midfield. Jade Crofts, a prolific scorer throughout her career, weighed in with 15 goals in 12 games including a run of scoring in 9 successive games.
The adaptable Alex Cridland stepped up from the outfield of the Development side to successfully take over in goal. Her sister Georgina suffered a serious leg injury which prematurely curtailed her season. The regular team was completed by defenders Amy Roderick, Keely Perkins, Sian Anthony, Natalia Shwartz & Demi Breakwell-Bounds & in midfield were the influential Georgia Shwarz & talented teenagers Cerys Shipley, Alex-Marie Bond & Olivia Fairfax.
Remember that you can see some of the images from the Ladies games by visiting the gallery on the website Ladies 1st Team Gallery
CWMBRAN CELTIC WOMEN 2023-4 STATISTICS
Appearances (19)
18 Eloise Meaney, Keely Perkins, Georgia Shwarz; 17 Fiona Anthony, Sian Anthony, Alex-Marie Bond, Jodie Challenger, Amy Roderick, Natalia Shwarz ; 16 Cerys Shipley; 15 Elena Scrivens; 12 Alex Cridland, Jade Crofts; 9 Demi Breakwell-Bounds, Olivia Fairfax; 7 Summer Bowen-Quirk, Kristina Jasicova; 6 Georgina Cridland, Sophie Hall, Dominique Laida; 4 Megan Davies, Kim Harrison; 2 Teagen Eley; 1 Lydia Meaney, Natalie Rostron
Goals (51)
15 Jade Crofts; 10 Eloise Meaney; 9 Fiona Anthony; 4 Cerys Shipley, Georgia Shwarz; 2 Alex-Marie Bond, Jodie Challenger, Kim Harrison; 1 Summer Bowen-Quirk, Amy Roderick, Elena Scrivens
Assists (42)
12 Eloise Meaney; 6 Georgia Shwarz; 4 Fiona Anthony; 3 Summer Bowen-Quirk, Jodie Challenger, Jade Crofts, Elena Scrivens; 2 Cerys Shipley; 1 Alex-Marie Bond. Demi Breakwell-Bounds, Georgina Cridland, Teagen Eley, Dominique Laida, Amy Roderick.
JOHN STOCKWELL