Report | The New Saints Women 1 Swansea City Women 2
Swansea City Women produced a spirited comeback performance to claim a 2-1 victory over The New Saints at Park Hall.
A Chloe Chivers free-kick and a Stacey John penalty completed the turnaround for the Swans, after Zara Gibbs had given the hosts the lead in the 25th minute.
The Swans had to show real defensive resilience in the second half as the Saints pushed hard for an equaliser, but the visitors stood firm to ensure they took all three points back to south Wales.
The Swans started brightly, with the first chance falling to Lucy Finch 10 minutes in. The full-back cut inside from the left and struck from 20 yards, but Mackenzie Haydn-Jones got down well to make the save.
Despite the Swans’ positive start, it was the Saints who broke the deadlock. A ball into the area was met by Maria Francis-Jones, whose effort was initially saved by Amelia Forkings, but the rebound fell kindly to Gibbs, who headed home from close range.
Swansea responded immediately, drawing level within a minute as a trademark Chivers free-kick cannoned off the crossbar before deflecting off Haydn-Jones and into the net.
The goal shifted the momentum firmly in Swansea’s favour, and they took the lead 11 minutes before half-time when John sent Haydn-Jones the wrong way from the penalty spot to give the Swans a well-deserved advantage.
The hosts had a good opportunity to level five minutes into the second half, when a defensive misjudgement saw the ball fall to Caitlin Chapman in the area, but the forward turned and fired her effort well over the bar.
Swansea had to weather some early pressure from the hosts and enjoyed a stroke of luck when a diagonal ball found Chantelle Teare, who broke away from Lauren Davies and unleashed a powerful low strike that rattled the left-hand post.
While TNS enjoyed more of the ball in the second half, the Swans looked threatening on the counter and caught the hosts out when a defensive mistake allowed John to steal possession and race clear of the Saints’ defence. She tried to lob Haydn-Jones, who was off her line, but the goalkeeper recovered brilliantly to tip the effort over the bar for a corner.
The Swans came close to adding a late third that would have sealed the three points, as Taite Trivett’s ball into the area deflected off a Saints defender and clipped the post.
There was a late scare for the Swans when a ball into the area was met by substitute Charlotte Crees, but her first-time effort flashed wide of the post, allowing the visitors to hold firm and secure the victory.
The New Saints FC Women: Mackenzie Haydyn-Jones, Maria Francis-Jones, Zara Gibbs(Charlotte Crees 60’), Tiggy Webb, Kayleigh Baker, Kelsey Richardson, Chantelle Teare, Lexie Harrison(Grace Thomas 86’), Lia Lewis, Caitlin Chapman, Safia Paraiso(Mia Davies 46’).
Substitutes not used: Charlie Scott, Matilda Edge, Olivia Buckland, Soffia Jones.
Swansea City Women: Amelia May Forkings, Lucy Finch(Lauren Davies 45’), Maddy Murray, Aimee Deacon(Emily Richards 61’), Chloe Chivers, Stacey John, Ellie Lake(Caitlin Williams 78’), Eilish Mitchell(Steph Turner 67’), Taite Trivett, Emily Thomas(Sammy Wynne 45’), Jessica Williams.
Substitutes not used: Opal Rayner, Caitlin Seaborne.