Academy round-up | Swansea City Women and Girls
Four of our academy sides were in action over the weekend. Here’s how they got on in this week’s round-up.
Under-13s
Swansea City Women Under-13s returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over The New Saints at Park Hall.
Roy Thomas’ side took the lead in the first half through captain Ava Jones, who netted her first goal of the season, before holding firm to secure all three points and condemn the Saints to their first defeat in three games.
The young Swans opened their National Academi campaign with the victory and will return to action in the Academi South League a week on Saturday when they host Cardiff City, looking to avenge last week’s defeat to the Bluebirds.
Swansea City Women Under-13s: Lily Davies, Maisie Rees, Ava Jones (captain), Ava Tipuric, Isabelle Jones, Ava Salter, Eva May Salmon, Maisie Brown, Tabitha Appleby.
Substitutes: Ffion Evans, Freya Griffiths.
Under-15s
Swansea City Women Under-15s suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to The New Saints at Park Hall, conceding a late winner in added time.
The Swans took the lead after 15 minutes through defender Indie Roberts, who scored her third goal of the season. Her strike proved to be the only goal of the first half.
TNS found an equaliser just one minute into the second half, with captain Isla Richards netting her third goal in as many games for the Saints.
Cieron Williams’ side restored their advantage nine minutes later, with Imogen Phillips putting the Swans back in front with her first goal of the season.
However, the hosts fought back, with forward Lylah Soutar finding the equaliser before scoring again in stoppage time to secure all three points for TNS.
The fixture marked the Swans’ first national game of the season. They return to action in the Academi South League on Saturday morning, travelling to face Haverfordwest County.
Swansea City Women Under-15s: Indigo Belton, Ellianna Bidder, Indie Roberts, Grace Morgan, Amelia-Rae Cloke, Arianwen Budden, Skye Cannon, Isla Bishop, Ellie-May Scott, Amelia-Lily Sullivan, Ella Bowen.
Substitutes: Ava Carman, Imogen Phillips.
Under-17s
Swansea City Women Under-17s drew 1-1 with Pontypridd United Under-16s at Maritime Recreation Ground.
Pontypridd opened the scoring in the 18th minute, with a long ball forward finding Megan Woodland, who played in Daisy Collins. Collins shifted the ball onto her left foot before poking it past goalkeeper Madison Payne.
However, Lewis Walters’ side found an equaliser in the 44th minute. Elin Edwards played a chipped ball forward, which was headed on by Lily Woodland into the path of Ruby Burgin, who netted her second goal of the season after scoring in the Swans’ opening game against Caerphilly Dragons.
The result maintained an unbeaten start to the season for the Swans, who sit seventh in the South Wales Women's and Girls' Under-17s Combined League. They will look to return to winning ways when they host Barry Town United at the Joma High Performance Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Swansea City Women Under-17s: Madison Payne, Carys Reason, Marie-Leigh Henricksen, Ruby Burgin, Molly Silcox, Milli Jenkins, Ruby Dwan, Seren Kirk, Halle Morgan, Ruby Cannon (captain), Katie Walters.
Substitutes: Iola Parton, Elin Edwards, Lily May Woodland, Seren Lewis, Ffion Ferguson.
Under-19s
The Swansea City Women Under-19s made it back-to-back victories after producing a superb performance to secure an emphatic 9-1 win over Penybont at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.
The Swans opened the scoring after just 13 minutes when a Lily Stabler corner was met by a powerful header that cannoned off the crossbar. The rebound fell to Ellie Gibbins, who converted from close range.
Penybont responded through a set piece of their own, with a corner into the box not cleared by Swansea. Following a scramble in the area, Rosie Jo Bishop managed to get a foot on the ball and steer it past Chloe Rees.
Lowri Jones restored the Swans’ lead just five minutes later, striking home after Gibbins played her through into the area.
Captain Susanna Cunningham added a third soon after, collecting the ball 20 yards out before producing a superb curling effort into the top corner to extend the advantage.
Jones netted her second of the evening shortly after the break, with a cross from Gibbins finding the forward, who shifted the ball onto her right foot before powering it past Georgia Cobley.
Substitute Ada Woodman made it five in the 65th minute after a failed clearance from Cobley gifted her possession just yards from goal, allowing her to slot the ball into the net.
Jones then completed her hat-trick in superb fashion, receiving the ball from Stabler before turning her defender and advancing into the area. She created space by dummying another Penybont defender before curling the ball into the far corner.
Woodman added her second seven minutes later, running onto a pass from Darcey Phillips before cutting inside onto her right foot and powering a shot into the near corner.
Like Jones, Woodman also completed her hat-trick with 12 minutes remaining, firing home a powerful effort from outside the area.
Robyn Preece rounded off the scoring for the Under-19s with a superb free kick from the right-hand side, catching the goalkeeper off guard as the ball bounced past Cobley.
The result leaves the Swans in fifth place in the table, level on 12 points with Pontypridd United, ahead of Friday’s fixture against Briton Ferry Llansawel.
Swansea City Women Under-19s: Chloe Rees, Caitlin Sweeney, Darcey Phillips, Evie Evans, Lily Stabler (Seren Tidy 73), Lowri Jones (Emily Leary 73), Susanna Cunningham (captain), Megan Williams (Kelsea Verallo-Nicholas 67), Ellie Gibbins (Dani Webster 67), Ffion Ferguson (Ada Woodman 55), Robyn Preece.
Substitutes not used: Freya Morgan.