Report | Wrexham Women 4 Swansea City Women 2
Two late second-half goals saw Swansea City Women fall to their first away defeat since September as they suffered a 4-2 to Wrexham at the Rock.
The Swans led on two occasions, with Chloe Chivers opening the scoring in the first half before a Katie Barker penalty brought Wrexham level heading into the break.
Aimee Deacon then restored the Swans’ lead with her eighth league goal of the season, but Wrexham again responded from the spot as Barker netted her second of the match.
Wrexham finished the stronger side, scoring twice in the closing stages through Lilli Mai Jones and Rosie Hughes to secure victory on their return to the Rock.
The Swans started positively, carving out the first opportunity from a set piece. Chivers’ 30-yard free-kick looked destined for the bottom corner, but Liz Craven got down well to parry it behind for a corner.
Both teams looked for the opening goal early on, as Barker found Mariam Mahmood, who twisted away from her marker before firing a strong effort that failed to trouble Amelia Forkings in the Swansea goal.
The Swans took the lead just before the half-hour mark following a swift counter-attack. Stacey John threaded a defence-splitting pass through the middle, allowing Chivers to beat the offside trap, round Craven, and finish into an empty net.
The lead lasted only nine minutes, as Barker levelled from the penalty spot after the referee ruled that John had pulled Mahmood down inside the area.
The Swans made the perfect start to the second half, regaining the lead within minutes when Emily Thomas delivered a superb cross from the right, and Deacon met it with a firm header which flew past Craven.
Wrexham looked to respond quickly, with a good chance falling to Baker after a long ball found Ava Suckley, who headed it down into her path. However, Baker’s first-time volley flew well over the bar.
Wrexham equalised for the second time on the hour mark. A long ball down the right found Mahmood, who advanced into the area before being brought down by Lucy Finch. Barker stepped up once again and placed her penalty into the bottom-left corner, with Forkings guessing correctly but unable to keep it out.
The hosts almost took the lead immediately after their equaliser, with an over-the-top ball sending Barker through on goal. However, Forkings stood tall and produced an excellent close-range save to deny the forward.
The momentum was with the hosts heading into the final third of the match, as Faye Hillier-Knox delivered a cross-cum-shot into the box that clipped the crossbar - much to the relief of the Swans.
The hosts made their pressure count, taking the lead for the first time after a Hannah Snape corner was delivered to the back post. Jodie Bartle met it with a header across the face of goal, and Jones reacted quickest to nod the ball past Forkings.
Wrexham continued to look the more threatening side in the closing stages despite holding the lead, and Forkings, who had produced several outstanding saves throughout the match, denied substitute Hughes after she found space in the area, getting down well to keep her out.
But Hughes eventually found her goal in added time, showcasing quick footwork to weave through multiple Swans defenders before rounding Forkings and finishing into an empty net to seal Wrexham’s fourth.
Wrexham AFC Women: Liz Craven, Phoebe Davies, Jodie Bartle, Natalie Clark, Mariam Mahmood, Josie Smith, Ava Suckley(Rosie Hughes 86’), Katie Barker, Faye Hillier-Knox(Carra Jones 86’), Hannah Snape, Lili Mae Jones.
Unused substitutes: Chloe Ankers, Erin Lovett, Abbie Iddenden, Keren Allen, Leah Burke.
Swansea City Women: Amelia Forkings, Lucy Finch, Maddy Murray, Steph Turner, Sammy Wynne, Aimee Deacon, Chloe Chivers, Stacey John, Ellie Lake, Emily Thomas, Jessica Williams.
Unused substitutes: Lauren Davies, Emily Richards, Maisie Miller, Caitlin Seaborne, Eilish Mitchell, Caitlin Williams.