Report | Pontypridd United Women 1 Swansea City Women 5

Swansea City Women fought back from a goal down to claim a commanding victory over Pontypridd United at the USW Sport Park.

A first two goals of the season for Maisie Miller, along with strikes from Stacey John, Taite Trivett and Chloe Chivers, saw the Swans secure the win in Pontypridd after falling behind to an early Maddison Lloyd opener.

It was a dominant display from Yzzy Taylor’s side, who produced a great response after last week’s defeat at Wrexham. 

The Swans started brightly with plenty of possession, but it was the hosts who struck first, as a Jemima Lister through ball sent Lloyd clear to slot past keeper Amelia Forkings.

Chivers almost produced an instant equaliser when she met Trivett’s delivery into the area, but her effort crashed against the crossbar.

The hosts looked dangerous on the break and nearly doubled their lead 15 minutes in as a swift counter saw Lloyd find space in the area once again, but this time Forkings reacted well to parry her effort away from danger.

But the Swans hit back and found an equaliser through Miller after Trivett’s ball across goal from the left picked her out, and she calmly finished for her first of the season.

The Swans took the lead for the first time in the 38th minute when Maddy Murray was brought down in the area by Caitlin Davies. John stepped up and, although Anna Phelps got a hand to her penalty, she couldn’t keep it out.

There was a late scare in the half when Lloyd raced through on goal, but she was denied by excellent defending from Eilish Mitchell, who produced a perfectly-timed tackle to prevent a clear shot on target.

The Swans came flying out of the blocks and added a third goal within minutes of the restart. Much like their first, a superb delivery from Trivett down the left found Miller, who tapped in from close range in what was almost a carbon copy of the opener.

Just a minute later, Miller turned provider, playing in Trivett, who drove a shot across goal and into the bottom-left corner, leaving Phelps with no chance.

Miller and Trivett combined again minutes later, with Miller’s cross finding Trivett at the far post, only for her close-range header to be well saved by Phelps.

The Swans continued their strong second half and pushed for more goals, with John denied a spectacular second when her volley from inside the area crashed against the crossbar.

The game entered a quieter spell after a frantic opening 10 minutes of the half, with the result all but confirmed, though Chivers did have a late opportunity. A ball into the box was only partially cleared by the Pontypridd defence, and the midfielder met the loose ball and fired just wide of the post.

A goal would follow for Chivers soon after, with the midfielder receiving the ball in the penalty area before striking a powerful effort across goal into the bottom corner. 

A late chance for a Pontypridd consolation fell to Molly Jones in added time following a corner, but her close-range effort went straight at Forkings, who saved with her foot.

Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lauren Davies, Maddy Murray (Caitlin Seaborne 55’), Emily Richards (Sammy Wynne 67’), Maisie Miller, Chloe Chivers, Stacey John (Aimee Deacon 67’), Ellie Lake, Eilish Mitchell, Taite Trivett(Lowri Jones 79’), Caitlin Williams(Jess Williams 55’)

Substitutes not used: Opal Rayner, Steph Turner.

Pontypridd United Women: Anna Phelps, Caitlin Davies, Molly Jones, Jemima Lister, Maddison Lloyd, Nicole Fenton(Luana D’Ambrosio 46’), Jessica Cockayne(Mali Ackerman 75’), Seren Thomas-Condon(Lauren Hibbert 88’), Torri Grenfell(Mia Sherrard 65’, Saoirse Healey, Ruby Medcraft(Faye Marshall 88’).

Substitutes not used: Alysha Hawkins.