Report | The New Saints Women 2 Swansea City Women 5

Chloe Chivers picked up a four-goal haul as Swansea City Women kicked off their Genero Adran Premier phase two campaign with an impressive 5-2 victory over The New Saints at Park Hall.

Midfielder Chivers’ quartet included a first-half hat-trick, with Eilish Mitchell also in the scoresheet as the Swans secured a sixth consecutive win in all competitions.

The result also reduced the gap to four points on Wrexham and five on leaders Cardiff at the top of the table, with Swansea holding a game in hand over the Bluebirds.

It was a blistering start from the visitors, who took the lead inside three minutes through a superb Chivers free kick. However, they were soon pegged back as Tiggy Webb levelled for the hosts. Chivers responded in emphatic fashion, adding two further long-range strikes to hand the Swans a two-goal advantage at the break.

The Saints pulled one back in the second half through a well-taken finish from Chantelle Teare, but Swansea remained in control. A late header from Mitchell restored breathing space before Chivers capped a sensational individual display with another stunning long-range effort to seal all three points.

It was the perfect start for the Swans when Chivers stepped up and unleashed a trademark 25-yard free-kick that crashed off the crossbar before bouncing down and over the line past keeper Orla Howard.

The lead didn’t last long, however. A corner from Kelsey Richardson was initially headed clear, but Webb reacted quickest to fire a first-time effort goalwards, with a deflection taking it beyond Amelia Forkings in the Swansea goal.

A superb through ball from Chivers then sent Aimee Deacon into the area, but Howard was out sharply to make an excellent close-range save.

Deacon was denied again moments later after meeting a cross from the right, only for Howard to parry the effort away from danger.

Swansea’s bright start paid off once more as Chivers restored the lead in stunning fashion, curling another superb free-kick - this time from 35 yards - flying over Howard and into the net.

The Saints remained dangerous on the counter. A quick break down the left saw Lexi Jones surge past Caitlin Williams before picking out captain Lia Lewis, but her powerful close-range strike was well saved by Forkings, and the resulting scramble eventually resulted in a free-kick to the Swans.

Tatite Trivett was also a constant threat down the flank, bursting past her marker on the left before drilling a low ball towards Deacon, but Howard reacted quickly to intercept before the forward could generate any real power on the shot.

Howard was kept busy again moments later as Murray picked out Trivett with another superb through ball, and the winger’s second effort in as many minutes was well held by the Saints goalkeeper.

Chivers then completed her hat-trick a minute before half-time in sensational fashion, unleashing another 30-yard screamer that flew past Howard, who could only watch it ripple into the net - capping off one of the finest hat-tricks you’re likely to see.

The Saints started the second half brightly and pulled a goal back within seven minutes of the restart. Lexie Harrison slipped Teare through on goal, and the forward used her pace to beat Jess Williams before firing past Forkings to trim the deficit.

But Swansea continued to create chances with regularity and Trivett went close again just past the hour mark, bursting down the left and outmuscling Kayleigh Baker, but her effort inside the area clipped the outside of the post and rolled out for a goal-kick.

Deacon then showed great control to bring down a long ball before driving into the box, though her low strike was straight at Howard.

But the Swans did restored their two-goal cushion with 10 minutes remaining. Another Chivers free-kick crashed against the crossbar, but the rebound fell kindly for Mitchell, who guided a header past Howard to make it 4-2.

TNS continued to threaten late on, with Teare racing onto a through ball, but Forkings stood tall to make the save before the danger was cleared.

Fittingly it was Chivers who would have the final word, rounding off a sensational display with her fourth goal in the 90th minute. Played in by Sammy Wynne, she unleashed yet another stunning effort from 25 yards cap off a dominant performance from the Swans.

The New Saints Women: Orla Howard, Zara Gibbs, Mia Davies, Tiggy Webb, Kayleigh Baker, Grace Dunkerley(Olivia Buckland 80'), Kelsey Richardson(Grace Thomas 90+2'), Chantelle Teare, Lexie Harrison, Lexi Jones(Yasmin Evans 80'), Lia Lewis (C). 

Unused substitutes: Megan Bowen.

Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lucy Finch(Lauren Davies 74'), Maddy Murray(Emily Richards 89'), Sammy Wynne, Aimeee Deacon(Lowri Jones 89'), Chloe Chivers, Stacey John(Monet Legall 89'), Eilish Mitchell, Taite Trivett, Caitlin Williams(Maisie Miller 67'), Jess Williams (C).

Unused substitutes: Opal Rayner, Steph Turner.