Report | Swansea City Women 1 Cardiff City Women 3
Swansea City Women suffered south Wales derby disappointment as Cardiff City Women came from a goal down to take all three points at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The home side had much the better of the opening period, with Aimee Deacon and Chloe Chivers going closest to an opener.
They got a deserved reward when Deacon turned in a near-post cross early in the second half as they eyed an important three points in what is shaping up to be a close Genero Adran Premier title race.
However, the visitors responded strongly to falling behind, and Helen Evans got them back on terms.
Both sides had chances to win it late on, but Mikayla Cook’s free-kick 10 minutes from time gave the visitors the lead, and Lily Billingham added a late third in stoppage time.
Swansea will be incredibly frustrated not to have taken something from a game they had the better of for much of the first hour, but will have to quickly refocus with a run of important games in three competitions occupying their next month.
The Swans had enjoyed a fine run of form since losing 3-0 to the reigning champions at Cardiff City Stadium In September, and they had two big chances inside the opening five minutes.
Deacon got onto Jess Williams' measured ball Into the channels and her angled drive was parried by Grace Olsen, with the Cardiff keeper also managing to push away Chivers' follow-up effort.
Cook had an effort blocked at the other end, while Chivers saw her strike from a long-range free-kick gratefully hauled in by Olsen.
But the Swans were dealt a blow when Lucy Finch was forced off having received lengthy treatment following a tussle with Cook; Caitlin Williams taking her place.
Chivers took aim again, opting to shoot for goal from a drop-ball following a break in play, with her effort whistling just wide of the far stick with the keeper rooted to the spot.
The Swans had certainly enjoyed the better of the opening half, with an organised press proving problematic for the visitors, but they needed a superb covering tackle from substitute Williams to deny Laure Curnock a clear sight of goal as the contest remained goalless at half-time.
The Swans then had a huge chance to take the lead just seconds after the restart. A ball in behind the defence caused confusion and a wayward header presented Deacon with an opportunity, but here attempted lob dropped just the wrong side of the far post.
Stacey John then had an effort drift wide of the uprights after her initial pressing work had won the ball high up the pitch, before Olsen parried an Emily Thomas effort as Swansea continued to look the more likely to find a breakthrough.
And it came 11 minutes into the second half as good work by Deacon and Chivers sent Thomas into space, and her low inswinging cross was turned in at the near post by the number nine.
They could have doubled their just two minutes later as a lovely cross from Chivers found John arriving at the far post, but she put her effort wide of the target.
Cardiff soon wasted a big chance of their own, Lily Billingham firing wastefully wide after being sent through on goal as the Swansea offside trap was beaten.
But the hosts had no let-off a few moments later when Evans steered the ball in at the near post after neat work by Billingham and Cook.
Mackenzie Olden was denied by Amelia May Forkings as Cardiff had their best spell of the game, with the Cardiff substitute finding the side-netting from the next meaningful visiting attack.
Swansea found their feet again and Trivett was denied a winner when her low volley was blocked by Olsen, and Cardiff took advantage as Cook’s set-piece flew high into the net before Billingham slotted in a third in stoppage time.
Swansea City Women: Amelia May Forkings, Lucy Finch (Caitlin Williams 30), Maddy Murray, Steph Turner, Sammy Wynne (Eilish Mitchell 69), Aimee Deacon (Emily Richards 88), Chloe Chivers, Stacey John, Ellie Lake, Emily Thomas (Taite Trivett 69), Jess Williams (captain).
Unused Substitutes: Opal Rayner, Maisie Miller, Caitlin Seaborne.
Cardiff City Women: Grace Olsen, Lisa Owen, Ffion Price (Amy Long 70), Hannah Power (captain), Nieve Jenkins, Laura Curnock (Mackenzie Olden 46), Fiona Barry, Kerry Walklett (Megan Bowen 46), Lily Billingham, Mikayla Cook, Helen Evans.
Unused Substitutes: Ceryn Chamberlain, Maddison Perrott, Amy Long, Somoraa Fletcher, Lucy Malin.
Referee: Jordan Harman
Attendance: 593