Cardiff Met and Swansea City shared the spoils, as they drew 1-1 at Cyncoed in the Adran Premier.
Sophie Hancocks put Met ahead, only for Nieve Jenkins to equalise three minutes after the opening goal, as both sides couldn’t find a win that would’ve done their respective title challenges a world of good.
The draw leaves both sides as they were heading into this game, Met in second and the Swans in third.
These two sides possess excellent attack minded players, so it was no surprise that the first chance fell five minutes into the game. A looped ball was played into the path of Stacey John-Davies, and she was faced with an on-rushing Amelia Forkings. John-Davies tried to chip her, but the ball landed narrowly wide of the post.
John-Davies and Ellie Lake were causing havoc down the right side early on. Their link up play and their crossing was difficult for Met to deal with, but they stood tall and cleared everything.
Swansea had dominated the early phases, so perhaps it was a surprise to see Met go ahead in the 25th minute. A corner from Sophie Hancocks was whipped in straight towards Swansea keeper Claire Skinner, and it looked like the keeper punched it into her own net. Hancocks and Met didn’t care how it happened, but they were ahead.
This Swansea team however are the reigning champions, and they showed a champion’s spirit as they equalised three minutes later.
They had Met penned back in their own box and were having shot after shot on goal. After a Forkings save, John-Davies picked the ball up and crossed into Nieve Jenkins, who rose well and nodded her header over Forkings.
The goal seemed to settle both teams back down and the battle was well and truly in the midfield, with neither side really able to take control.
Two minutes from the break, the Archers had an excellent chance to equalise through Steph Turner, but she couldn’t keep her effort down from a Robyn Pinder cross, and it was level heading into half time.
Ceri Phillips seemed to deliver a Phil Brown style half time team talk on the pitch during the break, but neither his team nor Izzy Taylor’s team took the game by the scruff of the neck in the early stages of the second half. The bitterly cold Cardiff rain possibly playing its part.
For the majority of the second half both sides were reduced to a handful of half chances, a sign that both defences and keepers were playing very well.
Turner again went close for Met twelve minutes from time, but Skinner clawed the ball away from goal magnificently.
Swansea thought they might’ve had the winner four minutes from the end, but Forkings sprung into action again and made a brilliant diving save to deny John-Davies.
A draw is how it finished, in what was a hard-fought game.
Met now face top of the table Cardiff City next week in Cyncoed, while Swansea travel to face Abergavenny Town in a midweek fixture.
Player of the Match: Amelia Forkings
I thought both defences and goalkeepers were on top form, but Forkings edges it for me. She had a lot of one-on-ones to deal with, and she came out on top every time. A real confident performance from the Met keeper today
Cardiff Met
Amelia Forkings (GK), Sophie Davidson, Jess Westhoff, Tija Richardson, Steph Turner ©, Sophie Hancocks, Emily Allen, Elianna Chavez, Robyn Pinder (Shannon Evans, 69’), Erin Murray, Ellie Preece (Evie Griffiths, 87’)
Unused Subs: Zakhari Turner (GK), Tiggy Webb, Kennesha Nanette
Goals: Sophie Hancocks (25’)
Yellow Cards: Steph Turner (72’), Emily Allen (77’)
Swansea City
Claire Skinner (GK), Shaunna Jenkins (Alicia Powe, 56’), Ellie Lake, Emma Beynon © (Sarah Adams, 76’), Kelly Adams, Ria Hughes, Nieve Jenkins, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davies, Jess Williams, Rachel Cullen (Nia Rees, 69’)
Unused Subs: Chelsea Herbert (GK), Emily Freeman
Goals: Nieve Jenkins (28’)
Yellow Cards: Ellie Lake (64’)
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