Report | Swansea City Women 0 Briton Ferry Llansawel Women 3
Ten player Swansea City Women fell to a 3-0 defeat against Briton Ferry Llansawel Women at the Swansea.com Stadium.
A first-half brace from Lucy Powell, followed by a second-half finish from Brooke Llewellyn, secured victory for Ferry in what proved to be a difficult afternoon for Yzzy Taylor’s Swans side, who had Caitlin Williams sent off in the 35th minute.
After a positive opening 10 minutes from the Swans, Ferry grew into the game and took the lead through Powell’s penalty following the dismissal. The visitors doubled their advantage before half-time before Llewellyn added a third shortly after the restart, capitalising on their numerical advantage.
The Swans continued to battle and created opportunities to find a consolation goal in the closing stages, but Ferry held firm to secure all three points.
Swansea started on the front foot and created an early opportunity when Taite Trivett burst down the left before delivering a cross towards Aimee Deacon at the near post. Deacon connected with the ball, but Courtney Young produced an excellent close-range save to turn the effort behind for a corner.
Chloe Chivers also tested Young with a free-kick from 20 yards. The effort was struck with power and initially spilled by the goalkeeper, but the Ferry defence reacted quickly to clear the danger.
The visitors went close to opening the scoring when Maizie Steins played Katy Hosford through on goal. Hosford struck from just outside the area, but her effort crashed against the crossbar.
But Ferry did take the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Williams was adjudged to have pushed Steins inside the penalty area. Referee Richard Jeffries awarded a penalty and showed Williams a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Powell stepped up and converted from the spot to give the visitors the advantage.
Reduced to 10 players, Swansea came under increased pressure, with Steins going close to extending Ferry’s lead. The Swans defended resolutely to initially keep the deficit to one, but Powell doubled her side’s advantage shortly before the break, her free-kick from the right looping over Amelia Forkings and into the far side of the net.
Ferry netted their third eight minutes into the second half, with a delivery into the box from Powell was not cleared by the Swans, leaving the ball to fall to Llewellyn who fired home from close range.
The visitors threatened to extend their lead further just minutes later, when substitute Maia Owen drove into the area and unleashed a low effort that cannoned off the right-hand post.
Swansea looked to respond, with Trivett presented with an opportunity to pull a goal back 15 minutes from time. Sammy Wynne won possession in midfield and found Chivers, who threaded a pass through the Ferry defence into the path of Trivett, but the winger dragged her effort wide of the post.
The Swans continued to search for a consolation goal, with Deacon advancing down the right before squaring the ball to Maddy Murray. Her first-time effort was punched away by Young in the closing minutes as Ferry secured the victory and a clean sheet.
Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lauren Davies(Maisie Miller 57'), Quianna Wheeler(Eilish Mitchell 46'), Maddy Murray, Ellie Lake, Aimee Deacon, Chloe Chivers(Lily Deacon 81'), Taite Trivett(Monet Legall 81'), Aoife Sheridan(Sammy Wynne 67'), Caitlin Williams, Jess Williams (C).
Substitutes not used: Opal Rayner, Caitlin Seaborne,
Briton Ferry Llansawel Women: Courtney Young, Laura-May Walkley-Witts, Fleur Jenkins, Brooke Llewellyn, Lowri Ridings (C), Lucy Powell(Georgia Howells 70'), Olivia Kett-White, Jess Denscombe(Ela Roberts 71'), Maizie Stiens(Jade Crofts 80'), Katy Hosford(Megan Kearle 80'), Freya Peyton(Maia Owen 53').
Substitutes not used: Charlotte Merry, Lily Evans.
Attendance: 642