Report | Cardiff City Women 2 Swansea City Women 1
Swansea City Women were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Cardiff City despite another spirited South Wales derby performance.
First-half goals from Lily Billingham and Laura Curnock proved enough to secure a second victory in a week for Ian Derbyshire’s side, with Eilish Mitchell netting a Swansea equaliser between those strikes.
It was another strong display from the Swans, who enjoyed long spells of possession but, like the reverse fixture at Llandarcy a week earlier, they were unable to make the most of the chances they created.
The result leaves Swansea set to end the season in third place, with three games of Genero Adran Premier phase two remaining ahead of a Bute Energy Welsh Cup final against Cardiff in April.
The Swans had the better of the chances in the opening minutes. Taite Trivett had the beating of her full-back down the left-hand side before delivering a brilliant cross to Chloe Chivers, who fired over the crossbar.
Cardiff also had their own chances, with Lisa Owen attacking down the right flank. Her cross found Nieve Jenkins whose diving header at the back post could only find the side-netting.
Ten minutes in, Chivers was set free on the right hand side with her shot forcing a good save from Cardiff stopper Ceryn Chamberlain. Trivett kept the move alive on the left hand side, with her cross finding Stacey John whose header was glanced just wide.
Swansea opportunities continued to come just four minutes later, with Trivett continuing to cause problems for the opposition defence. This time she cut in from the left hand side and unleashed a powerful right footed strike which forced a good save from Chamberlain.
The turning point came after 27 minutes as Fiona Barry split the Swans’ defence with a through ball to Billingham, who chipped the ball over Amelia Forkings to give the hosts the lead. It was a tough blow for Swansea, who had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges.
The Swans looked to bounce back immediately, with Ellie Lake driving at the defence from fullback. She delivered the ball across the box but John was unable to steer the cross on target.
The pressure did finally pay off as Mitchell found the equaliser, her delivery causing problems for Chamberlain, who was unable to keep hold of the ball as it slipped into the net. It was a deserved reward for Swansea’s pressure.
However, the game did not remain level for long, with the hosts restoring their lead just seven minutes later. Mackenzie Olden was released down the right hand side, with her resulting cross finding Curnock to tap the ball home.
The second half introductions of Sammy Wynne and Aimee Deacon gave the Swans a new lease of energy, with Deacon sent through on goal in the 66th minute, however the Cardiff keeper was able to clean up just in the nick of time to beat her to the ball and maintain their one-goal advantage.
The Swansea chances continued to come, with John once again playing an intelligent ball through to Lake whose powerful shot went over the bar.
Chivers had a number of efforts from long-range free kicks in the second half, but was unable to test Chamberlain in goal.
The golden opportunity of the half fell to substitute Emily Richards. With one of her first touches she dispatched a shot which looked destined for the top corner. However, Chamberlain once again stood tall in the Cardiff net to ensure the home side remained in front.
The home side very nearly put the game to bed in the final 10 minutes when Ffion Price unleashed a free-kick from 25 yards that crashed off the crossbar, but the Swans managed to scramble the ball clear.
The visitors pressed and pressed for a leveller over the closing stages but Cardiff were able to hold on and secure all three points.
Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lucy Finch, Maddy Murray (Monet Legall 86’), Maisie Miller (Aimee Deacon 55’), Chloe Chivers, Stacey John, Ellie Lake, Eilish Mitchell (Sammy Wynne 46’), Taite Trivett (Emily Richards 73’), Caitlin Williams (Steph Turner 86’)
Substitutes not used: Opal Rayner, Lauren Davies.
Cardiff City Women: Ceryn Chamberlain, Hannah Power, Nieve Jenkins, Megan Bowen, Fiona Barry, Mackenzie Olden (Seren Thomas-Condon 83’), Maddison Perrott (Shannon Evans 46’), Lily Billingham, Lisa Owen, Laura Curnock (Madison Lloyd 63’), Amy Long (Ffion Price 63’).
Substitutes not used: Ffion Saunders, Elexis Lowe, Lily Nicholls.