Swansea City have taken the top spot in the Adran Premier after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Cardiff Metropolitan.
Shaunna Jenkins opened the scoring for the Swans before winger Stacey John-Davis added a brace to secure the result.
Met had their fair share of chances early on, but after Swansea’s first goal, Met struggled to break through the watertight defence.
Swansea showed their intentions straight from kick-off. They quickly got the ball forward to Oakley who broke free of her marker in the box, but the shot was well-saved by Alicia Sweeney.
Met then had two chances of their own. Skinner saved well after Corne’s header from a corner, and shortly after, Erin Murray played a superb cross towards Chavez in the box, but the striker couldn’t connect with it.
The pace of Swansea’s front-three caused Met endless headaches, and one example of this was when striker Rhianne Oakley broke down the wing, before squaring it to Stacey John-Davis. Her shot was blocked by Jessie Taylor, and although Swansea claimed it was off Taylor’s hand, Ben Williams disagreed.
After a frantic opening of 15 minutes, the game slowed down a bit, until Swansea opened the scoring after half an hour. Kelly Adams’ cross into the box found Shaunna Jenkins unmarked and in acres of space. The centre-back’s first offered bounced off the crossbar, but she made no mistake with the second effort for her third goal of the season.
Just five minutes later, the home side doubled their lead. Tija Richardson played a superbly weighted pass into the box which Stacey John-Davis diverted home.
Both sides had a flurry of half-chances in the opening five minutes of the second half. Swansea had a series of corners that posed a threat, and Sweeney did well to tip a cross by Jenkins over the bar. Oakley again caused problems for the Met defence with her pace, beating Turner to a loose ball before squaring the ball across goal, but nobody was on hand to reap the rewards.
Met’s best chance of the half came from a free-kick, which Emily Allen fired goalwards from 25 yards. However, it was comfortably dealt with by Claire Skinner.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, the home side nearly got a lucky goal. An attempted Met clearance was blocked by Laura Davies, and it nearly looped over Sweeney, but the goalkeeper did well to tip it over the bar.
Just a minute later, however, the second half saw its first goal, and it was the pick of them all. Stacey John-Davis picked up the ball on the touchline, before cutting inside and skipping past the challenge of Stephanie Turner, and then lifting the ball over Sweeney to put the result beyond doubt.
After today’s result, Swansea have taken the top spot with Met slipping to second. Swansea have a three-point advantage at the top, and they also have a game in hand.
Player of the Match
Shaunna Jenkins – Swansea City
Whilst Stacey John-Davis will rightfully take many of the plaudits for her contribution in attack, a solid defensive performance deserves credit for providing the platform to unleash the front three. Jenkins was imperious in defence, and did well to find so much space to take her goal.
Line-Ups
Swansea City
Claire Skinner, Alicia Powe (C), Shaunn Jenkins, Ellie Lake, Kelly Adams, Ria Hughes, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis, Rhianne Oakley, Laura Davies, Tija Richardson (Nieve Jenkins 87′)
Unused Substitutes: Gemma Border, Gemma Horgan, Jessica Williams, Nia Rees
Goals: Shaunna Jenkins 33, Stacey John-Davis 40, 78′
Yellow cards: Tija Richardson, Katy Hosford
Cardiff Met
Annabel Sweeney, Lucy Finch, Grace Corne, Stephanie Turner, Sophie Hancocks, Emily Allen, Laura-May Walkley, Erin Murray Ellie Preece (32′), Emily Richards (Amy Long 56′), Elianna Chavez, Jessie Taylor
Unused Substitutes: Charlotte Smith, Taylor O’Leary, Lauren Hutton-Townsend
Yellow Card: Laura-May Walkley 75′
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