Emily Richards relishes derby-day goal for hometown club
Swansea City Women midfielder Emily Richards savoured an extra-special moment after her goal helping her hometown club to a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the south Wales derby.
The Swansea-born midfielder produced a superb strike from 20 yards to net the Swans’ third goal and help Yzzy Taylor’s side secure all three points in their Genero Adran Premier opener.
Chloe Chivers had broken the deadlock with a superb free-kick, before pressure from Quianna Wheeler forced Shannon Evans into an own goal just minutes later to double the Swans’ advantage.
Richards added the Swans’ third five minutes into the second half, finding the net with a superb first-time effort from 20 yards, and scoring against the Swans’ local rivals carried an added significance.
“I am chuffed. A derby-day goal as a Swansea girl, what more could you want? It's a great feeling," she said.
“The team performance was absolutely outstanding. Everyone fought for each other and we got the result to prove it.
“We started the game really well. Chivers is a free-kick expert, she nailed it, and then for Quianna to run into the box and cause pressure for the second goal was great. It gave us a foundation and I thought we thoroughly deserved all three points.”
Richards’ goal came as she picked up possession on the edge of the area before firing a superb effort beyond the Cardiff goalkeeper.
And the midfielder admitted there was only one thing on her mind when the opportunity presented itself.
She added: “I could see the ball on the edge of the box and I thought, ‘Why not?’
“I fancied it. I love a goal on derby day and thankfully I took my chance when it was there, it went in and I’m so happy.”
The victory also marked the Swans’ first competitive fixture at the ThermaGlaze Ground, and Richards was full of praise for the collective effort that went into delivering a winning start at their new home.
“Everyone from the players to the staff, was absolutely fantastic. Everything we did was set up really well, we came out and put in a performance, and everyone at this club should be really proud of themselves," she added.