Report | Swansea City Women 1 Wrexham Women 3
Swansea City Women fell to their first defeat at the Swansea.com Stadium as a fast start sent Wrexham on the way to three points.
Quickfire goals from Ava Suckley and Katie Barker had the visitors two goals to the good inside 15 minutes, but the Swans halved the deficit through Stacey John before the break.
But they were unable to fully capitalise on their dominance in the period prior to the interval, and a second-half strike from Lili Jones was enough for the visitors to take all three points back to north Wales.
The Swans had made a positive start, enjoying much of the early possession. Chloe Chivers produced the first two efforts on target, testing Liz Craven twice in quick succession from distance, but the Wrexham keeper held firm on both occasions.
However, it was the visitors who struck first, as Suckley spotted Amelia Forkings off her line and lifted an audacious lob over the keeper to give Wrexham the lead.
They doubled their lead just four minutes later when a long ball over the top released Barker, who drove into the area and fired a powerful low strike into the bottom corner.
The momentum was firmly with the visitors, who nearly added a third soon after, but Forkings produced a fantastic save, denying Abbie Iddenden from close range.
The Swans halved the deficit in the 23rd minute when a long ball from Lucy Finch found John’s run, who smartly poked the ball past the advancing Craven to give her side a way back into the match.
The goal sparked a period where the home side pushed for an equaliser. Taite Trivett cut in from the left and tried to curl an effort into the bottom right corner, but Craven was equal to it.
Wrexham continued to look dangerous in attack, forcing Forkings into another important save. A cross from the left found Iddenden in space, but the goalkeeper reacted well to palm the strike away from danger.
Trivett continued to trouble the Wrexham defence with a fantastic solo run creating space just outside the area for a shot, but her effort was straight at Craven, who gathered comfortably.
Chances continued to fall at both ends. Barker raced clear of the Swans defence and drove into the area, only for her low strike to be held by Forkings. Moments later, a quick counter saw Aimee Deacon find space in the box but, after turning her defender, her shot was straight at Craven.
The second half, perhaps unsurprisingly, began at a slower pace, with both sides focusing on tightening their defensive shape after an open first half.
Chivers did carve out a half-chance from distance, attempting to lob Craven, but the goalkeeper gathered comfortably.
Wrexham then restored their two-goal advantage just before the hour mark. Jones was played into the area by Suckley and calmly slotted the ball beyond Forkings into the bottom corner.
With momentum swinging back in Wrexham’s favour, they nearly added a fourth when Barker’s strike from just outside the area drifted narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
As the game entered the final 20 minutes, the Swans continued to look for a way back into the game as John had an effort from 20 yards out that fell into the hands of Craven.
Substitute Rosie Hughes and Barker then had the opportunity to extend the Wrexham lead, but the former sent her shot wide of the target before excellent covering defending from Eilish Mitchell denied the latter.
Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lucy Finch (Lauren Davies 63), Maisie Miller (Steph Turner 79), Sammy Wynne (Madison Murray 56), Aimee Deacon, Chloe Chivers, Stacey John, Ellie Lake (Emily Thomas 63), Eilish Mitchell, Taite Trivett (Caitlin Williams 79), Jessica Williams.
Substitutes not used: Emily Richards, Caitlin Seaborne.
Wrexham AFC Women: Liz Craven, Phoebe Davies, Erin Lovett, Jodie Bartle, Carra Jones, Abbie Iddenden (Mariam Mahmood 69), Josie Smith, Ava Suckley (Rosie Hughes 80), Katie Barker, Hannah Snape, Lili Jones.
Substitutes not used: Sophie Nash, Neve Adams, Keren Allen, Leah Burke, Chloe Ankers.