Cardiff Metropolitan 0-1 Swansea City: Swans send early season statement
Swansea City Ladies gave a strong opening statement to start the season against Cardiff Metropolitan Ladies, as they dominated the Archers to gain their first win of the season.
The Swans earnt their first League win over Met since January 2017, gaining their first points of the season.
Stacey John-Davies grabbed the winner for the Swans in the second-half after a number of chances, with Estelle Randall keeping the Archers in the game with a string of superb saves.
Robyn Pinder came closest for Met, as her first-period strike cannoned off the post after a long-through ball slipped through the visitors back-line.
The Swans produced a strong start, being first to every ball and playing around their South Wales rivals.
A short corner within the first five minutes of play set the tone for the visitors, as Ellie Lake shot from space on the edge of the area that forced Estelle Randall into an acrobatic save.
Sharp passing and strong build-up play allowed the visitors to pierce through the Archers defence on numerous occasions. Stacey John-Davies played a quick one-two with Lake that gave her just Randall to beat, but her effort was wide and high.
Swansea were dominant in the opening stages and a quick long-ball caught the opposition defence off-guard. Sarah Adams latched onto the ball over the top that sliced through the Archers back-line but her chance slipped wide from a promising position.
Despite their slow start, Cardiff Met were looking for a way into the game and nearly found it through Robyn Pinder. The Archers attacker raced through with just the keeper to beat after a long-ball made it’s way through the Swans defence, although a poor finish meant her effort hit the post.
The combination of Sarah Adams and John-Davies caused havoc along the Archers back-line throughout the first-half and they nearly combined for the opener.
A deft flick from Adams put John-Davies one-on-one with Randall but once more the Cardiff Met stopper came to the rescue, pushing the ball away with her feet.
The second half had the Swans start just has they had ended the first, creating chances and pushing for an opener. John-Davies found herself in the dangerous areas once more, going close as an effort slipped onto the bar.
A bouncing ball fell to the Swans forward in the six-yard-box but her reactive effort his high and hit the woodwork, allowing the Archers to scramble clear.
The Archers instead looked to change things with substitute Kitty Wells and she almost made an immediate impact. Pinder slipped the wide player into a promising position but the chance again went begging for the Archers, as she scuffed her shot.
It would take over an hour but the Swans would finally break the deadlock after numerous chances.
Lauren Smith played John-Davies through, as the ever-present forward slipped into the six-yard area once again. Stopping to compose herself, she buried the chance, despite Estelle Randall’s strong hand to the ball.
With their confidence high, the Swans looked to put the game to bed as they created chance after chance.
Smith was next to try her luck, flicking the ball over two Met defenders and charging into the area, she struck a low effort towards goal but the Archers saviour was there once more, as Randall kept the game close for her side with a strong save.
The resulting corner put the Met stopper in action once more, as Katie Hosford’s inswinging corner was met high by Smith, with her flicked header pushed away by Randall, as the game petered out to a 1-0 finish.
Cardiff Met: Estelle Randall, Grace Corne, Lucy Finch, Rebecca Mathias (Chloe Tiley 74), Stephanie Turner, Sophie Hancocks, Lauren Townsend, Aimee Leigh Dagnall, Robyn Pinder, Madison Schupbach, Amy Long (Kitty Wells 53)
Swansea City: Deanna Lewis, Sarah Adams, Shauna Jenkins, Ellie Lake, Emma Beynon (C), Kelly Adams, Ria Hughes, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis (Brooke Llewellyn 82), Nieve Jenkins, Lauren Smith
(Featured Image: NJ-D Photography)
