Report | Cardiff City Women 5 Swansea City Women 1

14th April
Women
Rachel Cullen Steph Turner

Swansea City Women suffered defeat in the Genero Adran Trophy final as late goals handed Cardiff City Women their second trophy of the campaign at the SDM Glass Stadium.

Monet Legall had given the Swans a well-deserved lead in the 18th minute, and they remained in front at the break.

But the second period was a different story. Megan Bowen had Cardiff on level terms within seven minutes of the restart, before Molly Kehoe gave the league champions the lead for the first time with 20 minutes to go.

Late strikes from Rhian Oakley and Eliza Collie (2) rounded off the scoring for Cardiff in front of a crowd of over a thousand.

The Swans had been without Lucy Finch and topscorer and skipper Katy Hosford, after they were ruled out through injury.

But the depleted Swans showed intent in the first half with fierce pressing in midfield giving them a foothold in the game. Chloe Chivers tested the keeper with a few early shots from distance, before the first big chance of the match fell to Legall. 

Sammy Wynne played a first time pass out to Emily Thomas, who used her pace to great effect before cutting it back to the Swans striker. Legall made a smart run across the defender, but could only turn the effort wide.

At the other end, Rhianne Oakley spurned a huge chance after taking the ball around Chelsea Herbert when she was played through one-on-one, as her right-footed effort was only able to hit the side-netting.

But Legall did open the scoring with a fine strike after a neat one-two with Chivers. 

The forward received the return pass at the edge of the box, and hit a deft first-time effort over keeper Ceryn Chamberlain and inside the far post.

The goal gave the Swans a lift and Chivers went close with a strike from the edge of the box, and then twice tried her luck direct from corners, before narrowly missing the target again from distance.

The Bluebirds made a change at half-time introducing Bowen and the substitute had the side on level terms within minutes.

She arrived to head home Seren Watkins' corner delivery at the back post, after a period of pressure had seen Emma Beynon and Ffion Price send shots over the crossbar.

Herbert saved from Siobhan Walsh, Kehoe, and then denied Oakley from point-blank range, while Hannah Power very nearly turned Wynne’s cross past her own keeper at the other end.

But Cardiff took the lead when Collie’s tame effort rolled towards the post and Kehoe reacted first to put he ball in on the line after Herbert had parried.

Cardiff then sealed the victory with 10 minutes remaining when the Swans struggled to clear a long ball into the box, and Collie was able to poke the ball to Oakley who fired into the net.

Collie then turned in an Oakley cross for Cardiff's fourth, before the Welsh top-flight's golden boot winner swept home the fifth in stoppage time.

 

Swansea City Women: Chelsea Herbert, Steph Turner (Rhian Williams 89’), Ellie Lake (captain), Rachel Cullen, Robyn Pinder, Chloe Chivers (Imogen Harris 76’), Sammy Wynne (Kelsey Thomas 79’), Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Monet Legall, Emily Thomas, Jess Williams.

Substitutes: Claire Skinner, Halle Brace.

 

Cardiff City Women: Ceryn Chamberlain, Ffion Price, Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh (captain), Hollie Smith (Megan Bowen 46’), Mikayla Cook (Kelly Adams 82’), Seren Watkins, Emma Beynon, Molly Kehoe (Lisa Owen 76’), Eliza Collie, Rhianne Oakley.

Substitutes: Anna Phelps, Olivia Basham.

Attendance: 1,088