Jess Williams | The hurt we are feeling has to drive us to be better
Captain Jess Williams wants the hurt of an agonising Welsh Cup final defeat to serve as motivation for Swansea City Women to start turning narrow defeats into statement victories next term.
The Swans had looked on course to end a promising season with silverware when they raced into a 3-0 lead against Cardiff City at Rodney Parade, as Chloe Chivers, Aimee Deacon and Maisie Miller found the net,
However, three goals in barely 15 minutes turned the game on its head as a brace from Fiona Barry either side of a Shannon Evans header brought the sides level and led to a penalty shootout.
The Bluebirds ultimately came out on top, converting all five of their spot-kicks, while Stacey John saw her effort saved by Ceryn Chamberlain in her 250th and final appearance for the Swans, as Cardiff secured a 5-4 shootout victory.
It was a heartbreaking way to round off a season where Swansea have made signfiicant progress, and Williams knows the key next season is going to be for this side to take the next step and regularly beat rivals Cardiff and league champions Wrexham.
“I think we dominated the game like we have three or four times this season, but unfortunately it didn’t fall our way," she said.
"It’s always hard to lose on penalties, but we ended up in that position because our heads dropped for 10 minutes, we conceded three times, and that’s something we need to improve going into next season.
“We can be immensely proud of how far we’ve come this season. Anyone who has watched us will know we’ve come on leaps and bounds. We’ve improved week by week, and to be in this final and go toe-to-toe with Cardiff shows how far we’ve come as a squad.
“I said to the girls after the game that, as much as it hurts right now, this is something to build on.
"We know where we need to improve and what our strengths are, and if we build on that going into pre-season after a break, I’m sure we’ll be competing right at the top next season.”
Williams also praised the support of the Swans fans, who once again backed the side in strong numbers.
“The fans were great. All season we’ve spoken about how much their support means to us, and to see so many here was amazing. We can hear them on the pitch, and their backing never goes unnoticed," she added.
The final also marked the end of the careers of three Swansea stalwarts in John, Steph Turner and Lucy Finch, all of whom hung up their boots after the final.
Williams paid tribute to the trio, highlighting their contributions to the club and the relationships built along the way.
“They’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this badge for years. I’m so proud to have shared the pitch with them, and they should be immensely proud of everything they’ve achieved," said Williams.
“They’re not just teammates, they’re friends for life. They may be leaving the pitch, but they’ll always be part of this club and its family.”