Report | Swansea City Women 3 Cardiff Metropolitan Women 1
Swansea City Women maintained their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff Met at the ThermaGlaze Ground.
The Swans had to come from behind after Lily Moralee-Hughes gave the visitors an early lead, but an own goal levelled the scores just two minutes later before second-half headers from Jess Williams and Caitlin Seaborne ensured Yzzy Taylor’s side made it three wins from three in the Genero Adran Premier.
Swansea created plenty of opportunities during the opening 45 minutes and, despite going into the break level, had several chances to take the lead.
They came out strongly after the restart, with skipper J. Williams putting her side ahead from a Lauren Davies free-kick before Seaborne netted her first goal in Swansea colours, heading home from another Davies delivery.
The visitors opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, with Moralee-Hughes spotting Swans goalkeeper Amelia Forkings off her line and producing a superb lob to give the Archers the lead.
However, their advantage lasted just two minutes. Chloe Chivers saw her initial effort saved by Anna Phelps before Davies picked up the rebound and drilled the ball across goal from the left-hand side, with her delivery deflecting off Met defender Charley May Prouse and into the net.
The Swans continued to dominate possession after drawing level, with Aimee Deacon going close just before the half-hour mark. A superb long ball from Chivers found the forward, who cut inside onto her right foot before dragging her effort narrowly wide of the post.
The Archers continued to look threatening on the counter, however, with Moralee-Hughes beating the offside trap and racing towards goal, but she was unable to keep her effort on target.
Swansea went close again when a Chivers delivery found Trivett in the area, but she could only glance her header narrowly wide of the post.
Trivett then threatened again soon after, cutting inside from the left before unleashing a powerful effort from distance which rose narrowly over the bar.
The Swans eventually took the lead six minutes into the second half. Davies whipped a quickly taken free-kick into the area, where skipper J. Williams rose to meet it with a powerful header which flew past Phelps and into the net.
Swansea continued to spend much of the second half in the visitors’ half as they looked to extend their advantage, and Chivers went close with a trademark effort from distance, but she was unable to keep her strike down as it found the netting behind the goal.
J. Williams almost added her second with 20 minutes remaining when she once again rose highest to meet a set-piece, but Phelps reacted well to parry her header away.
The Swans did eventually add a third when another Davies delivery found Seaborne in the area, with the defender heading home to score her first goal in Swansea colours.
Taylor’s side continued to push for more, and Maisie Miller produced an excellent delivery from the left towards Sammy Wynne, whose first-time effort flashed narrowly wide as she looked to turn the ball home.
A final opportunity fell to substitute Monet Legall after Chivers drove into the area and squared the ball to the Swans’ number 17, but she was unable to generate enough power on her first-time effort to divert it on target.
Swansea comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure all three points and maintain their perfect start to the Genero Adran Premier campaign.
Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lauren Davies(Lily Deacon 81'), Ellie Lake, Sammy Wynne, Aimee Deacon(Monet Legall 81'), Chloe Chivers, Taite Trivett(Maisie Miller 68'), Caitlin Seaborne, Eilish Mitchell(Aoife Sheridan 63'), Caitlin Williams(Quianna Wheeler 68'), Jess Williams (C).
Substitutes not used: Opal Rayner, Lowri Jones
Cardiff Metropolitan Women: Anna Phelps, Faith Mulenga, Celyn Garton, Olivia Jones, Charley May Prouse(Casey Brant 82'), Olivia Jayne Barnes, Lily Moralee-Hughes(Hannah Rayner 71'), Demi Parry(Amaia Green 56'), Neve Powell(Scarlett Davies 77'), Megan Gladwyn, Gracie Mae Howard(Yasmin Mainwaring 55').
Substitutes not used: Maisy Gladwyn,, Evie Henshaw.