Report | Aberystwyth Town Women 1 Swansea City Women 2

Swansea City Women extended their winning streak to four matches with a hard-fought victory over Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue.

An own goal from Lalita Egan gave the Swans a first-half lead, before she made amends in the second half by netting the equaliser just after the hour mark.

The Swans clinched the winner with 20 minutes remaining through Chloe Chivers, who had been a creative spark throughout the match and fully deserved her goal for her relentless attacking display.

Things went from bad to worse for Aberystwyth as midfielder Imogen Scourfield was shown a second yellow card with 15 minutes remaining, as the visitors secured another win.

While the Swans took the win it would be the Seasiders who created the first opportunity within the opening minutes, as Scourfield found space down the right and fired an effort towards goal, but her strike drifted wide of the right-hand post.

The Swans looked to impose themselves early on, with Emily Thomas making good progress down the right before cutting inside and shooting from just outside the area, only to see her effort well blocked by Libby Isaac. 

The early pressure paid off as Swansea took the lead inside nine minutes. A Chivers free-kick from the left was met by Egan, whose attempted header to clear instead looped over her own goalkeeper, Sophie Steele, and into the net.

Chances were limited for a 20-minute spell following the opener, though Chivers came close with one of her trademark long-range efforts, which rose just over the bar.

Chivers continued to link play effectively, threading a pass into the feet of Aimee Deacon inside the area. Despite pressure from Isaac, the forward managed to get her shot away, but her effort was comfortably gathered by Steele. 

The Swans looked the more likely to extend their lead as the first half drew to a close, with Chivers going close again in the 40th minute. Emily Richards collected a pass from Thomas inside the area and laid the ball off to Chivers, but the forward couldn’t generate enough power on her effort to seriously test Steele, who saved comfortably.

The Swans made a slow start to the second half and were punished just before the hour mark when a Shauna Chambers delivery into the box wasn’t cleared, allowing Egan to make amends for her earlier own goal by firing Aberystwyth level.

The Swans looked to respond immediately and almost regained the lead through a superb strike from Jess Williams that was destined for the top corner, only for Steele to produce an excellent fingertip save to turn the effort behind for a corner.

However, the Swans restored their lead with 20 minutes remaining, when Chivers’ attempted cross into the box looped over Steele and dropped into the net.

The goal gave the Swans momentum to keep pushing for more goals and Chivers’ confidence was high, the midfielder attempting a curling effort from just outside of the area which drifted wide of the post.

Aberystwyth were then reduced to 10 after Scourfield was dismissed for a second yellow card following a late tackle on Deacon.

Swansea looked to make the most of the extra player, with a chance falling to substitute Eilish Mitchell after Deacon laid the ball off to her, but her first-time strike from 20 yards flew over the bar.

The hosts had to withstand sustained pressure from the Swans, with Williams coming close to adding a third from a Chivers corner. Her powerful header struck the underside of the bar before the Seasiders managed to clear the danger.

Aberystwyth Town Women: Sophie Steele, Rebecca Mathias, Sian Evans (Lowri James-Evans 63’), Lily Moralee-Hughes (Dani Mawle 90+2’), Libby Isaac, Imogen Scourfield, Alaw Davies (Sioned Kersey 63’), Shauna Chambers, Ffiona Evans (Paige Harvey 90+2’), Lalita Egan, Amy Jenkins.

Substitutes not used: Caitlin O’Shea, Amelie Talbot, Megan Ryan.

Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lauren Davies (Sammy Wynne 23’), Maddy Murray, Steph Turner, Emily Richards (Eilish Mitchell 62’), Aimee Deacon, Chloe Chivers, Ellie Lake (Maisie Miller 62’), Caitlin Williams, Emily Thomas (Lucy Finch 77’), Jess Williams.

Substitutes not used: Caitlin Seaborne, Lowri Jones.