Swansea City wonder strikes defeat Cardiff Met in front of four-figure crowd
SWANSEA, WALES - 04 SEPTEMBER 2022: Swansea City Ladies Stacey John-Davies scores the 2nd goal of the game and celebrates a 2-0 lead during the Genero Adran Premier fixture between between Swansea City Ladies FC & Cardiff Met WFC on September 4th, 2022, Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea, Wales. (Pic By John Smith/FAW)
Swansea City Ladies came out 2-0 winners at the Swansea.com Stadium as Cardiff Met suffered an early set-back.
The opening stages of one of the most important fixtures of the season as Swansea controlled the opening stages of the half as Cardiff Met could not provide any chances early on.
Chances came as Stacey John-Davis had a one-on-one chance against Amelia Forkings as the debutant keeper collected the ball well to prevent last season’s top scorer.
Yzzy Taylor’s side responded with a chance of their own as Sophie Hancock’s corner was headed just over by Shannon Evans.
Met came close again from another corner as Hancocks delivered the ball onto the head of Grace Corne who headed just past the post.
As Met looked to be creating all the attacking chances, John-Davis took a quick throw to the path of Monet Lagall as she struck a half-volley effort that went wide.
Elianna Chavez had an effort that was deflected off a Swansea defender as Steph Turner looked onside, but the linesman flagged the captain for being offside.
Seconds after the decision, Swansea hit the ball over the top as John-Davis saw Forkings off her line as her effort went just past the post.
Met corners early in the first half caused danger for Swansea as the Swans had a corner of their own as a Hosford delivery to the back post was headed just wide by Jessica Williams.
As Swansea kept providing chance after chance, they soon found a goal as Katy Hosford had a left-footed effort from 20 yards out as her effort went into the top left corner.
The forward was trying to find space as three defenders were around her as she managed to get around Turner to convert past the young keeper.
Kelly Adams created a chance early in the second half for the Swans as she delivered a ball into the centre of the box as Monet Lagall could not connect as Ceri Phillips’s side looked for a second.
Met looked to respond as Emily Allen delivered a ball into the box but Claire Skinner did brilliantly to collect the ball.
Swansea caused all the threats in the second half as fans in attendance saw a goal worthy of any occasion as John- Davis chipped the keeper from just inside the penalty area as it clipped off the post and into the net.
Last season’s top scorer got her first goal of the season as the goal will be up there for goal of the season.
John-Davis was at it again but for the wrong reasons as attempting to win the ball she collided with Forkings who required treatment following a collision as the forward escaped punishment.
Yzzy Taylor’s side needed a goal Amy Long hoped to bring it as her effort was saved at the near post by Claire Skinner.
Long was at it again as this time it was easier for Skinner as the Met winger had an effort from distance saved by Skinner.
Former Archer, Lucy Finch delivered a great delivery onto the head of John-Davis as her header went just past the post.
Swansea caused danger to the Met defence from set-pieces all game as Jessica Williams struck a free-kick into the penalty area as Hosford had a headered effort go just past the post.
Set pieces were a danger yet again as what looked to be a simple catch from Forkings was a difficult one as she nearly parried the ball into her net but Murray was there clear but only to the path of Laura Davies who had her effort stopped brilliantly by the keeper.
Grace Corne fouled the recently substituted Gwen Horgan from 35 yards out as the Swans won a free kick.
From the free-kick, it was nearly three for the home side as Jessica Williams had her audacious effort go just past the post.
The Archers subbed Long late on as a debut was handed to Millie Everest who made her first team debut for the side following her contribution for the Cardiff Met WFC u19s side last season.
Met could have grabbed a consolation goal late on as Corne delivered a brilliant ball over the top to Shannon Evans as she looked destined to score but Skinner made a great stop to deny the attacker.
Swansea got the first blood of the season against Met as the Swans travel to recently promoted Abergavenny next week.
The Archers hope to bounce back next week but it will be difficult as it will be a South Wales derby as they host Cardiff City at Cyncoed Campus.
