IT WAS a weekend to remember for Barry Town United Ladies FC as both the under-14 and under-16 girls teams successfully came through their South Wales FA Cup semi-finals with victories over AFC Porth and Merthyr Town.

The results continue an impressive season to date for both age groups who are competing on all fronts in league and cup competitions.

The under-14s team took on AFC Porth at Jenner Park Stadium and as anticipated this was always going to be a tight affair with one goal determining the victors in the previous encounters this season.

Barry again came out on top in this fixture 1 - 0 and deservedly so, having controlled possession for long periods of the match but had to wait 10 minutes from the end to get their goal from striker Phoebe Curtis.

The girls put in a strong team performance with the visitors rarely threatening the Barry goal and the result could have been more convincing had Barry taken numerous opportunities.

However, the result now gives the team an opportunity to win some silverware with a final against local rivals Cardiff City Ladies that will take place at the end of April.

In the under-16 age group, Barry were looking to follow up their FAW Cup quarter-final win last week with another cup victory at Merthyr Town’s Penydarren Park Stadium.

In freezing conditions the girls struggled to get into their normal rhythm in the first half, regularly gifting possession away despite dominating for long periods. The home side took a shock lead when Barry failed to deal with a cross from the left which was tapped home by the striker.

For the first time this season, Barry went in at half-time behind and this was a real test of character but the squad picked themselves up and arguably put in their best half of football of the season in the second period running in five goals and missing numerous other opportunities.

The equaliser came from a Bethan O’Donnell cross deflected in for an own goal and then striker Emma Cannon deservedly put Barry in front calmly chipping the ball over the goalkeeper who also had a fine game.

Barry were getting ahead as the match wore on and soon got a third when midfielder Jasmine Rowley hooked the ball home in the penalty area from a set piece before substitute Sophie Hawkins made it four cutting in from the left wing.

The best goal was saved until the end when a fine move playing from the defensive unit into midfield saw the ball go out wide and Rowley was on hand to covert the cross to make the final score 5 - 1 to Barry.

Credit to the defensive unit who were strong throughout protecting their goal with Merthyr rarely troubling the Barry goalkeeper. The under-16s will now take on Rhydyfelin in the final.

Under-14s squad: J Bullock, E Dimmick, C Meadows, T Cayton, S McDarren, O Barnett, E Hilliard, F Spence, M Cayton, T Trivett, E Matthews, S Meade, P Curtis, L Harris

Under-16s squad: R Stanley, B O’Donnell, D Connolly, H Jenkins, O Townsend, J Rowley, A Jama, K Spargo, G Corne, S Rees, E Cannon, S Hawkins, M Atkins.