Swansea City thump Cardiff Met to keep within title rivals Cardiff City
Cardiff Met v Swansea City in Adran Premier League at Cyncoed Campus on 5th March 2023. Credit: Perry Dobbins.
Swansea City kept their title hopes alive with a thumping 4-0 win away at Cardiff Met.
A hat-trick for Stacey John-Davis and one for Chloe Chivers made it a comfortable afternoon for the Swans.
The result means Swansea stay seven points behind Cardiff City with four games to play. Met’s title ambitions, meanwhile, ended today, and they stay in third.
The first half hour didn’t offer much in terms of chances, with both sides struggling to get into the final third.
When they did, half chances came for Stacey John-Davis and Meg Saunders, but Charlotte Smith in the Met goal wasn’t troubled.
As the half lingered towards its final stage, John-Davis stepped up with the opener. Saunders with the ball down the wing to the forward, and she cut inside to deliver a sumptuous curling effort into the far corner.
The match reverted to type before the break, neither able to create anything, apart from Tiggi Webb, whose effort from range clipped the bar, but it was the Swans who headed back into the dressing rooms ahead.
Ceri Phillips certainly encouraged his side to get forward more at the start of the second half, and he was delighted to see his side score a second ten minutes into the half.
Chloe Chivers’ pinpoint through ball found John-Davis, and she lashed her effort across goal to double the lead.
The same combination would provide the third goal. Chivers’ cross caused a mix up between Smith and Grace Corne, allowing John-Davis to nick the ball and tap it into an empty net.
Chivers herself certainly looked hungry to get on the scoresheet, and she did so with 15 minutes to go. Saunders’ loop over the top was collected by the winger. She strode into the box before leathering her shot past Smith. This was becoming a rout.
Met couldn’t get into the game, no matter how hard they worked, there was always a white shirt there first to snatch possession or to get the second ball.
For Swansea, they keep their feint title hopes alive with a solid and good victory.
Met’s attention now turns to the Adran Trophy final, as they face Cardiff City in a bid to retain their crown. Swansea now have a week off before they host TNS.
Player of the Match: Stacey John-Davis
Meg Saunders and Chloe Chivers deserve mentions but hat-trick hero John-Davis was brilliant. When the game had lulls, she dragged it into life with two impeccable finishes in particular.
Cardiff Met
Charlotte Smith (GK), Tiggi Webb, Jess Westhoff, Grace Corne, Steph Turner © (Grace Batsford, 78’), Sophie Hancocks, Emily Allen, Tija Richardson, Robyn Pinder, Erin Murray, Ellie Preece (Kennesha Nanette, 85’)
Unused Subs: Amelia Forkings, Sophie Davidson, Evie Griffiths
Swansea City
Chelsea Herbert (GK), Shaunna Jenkins, Ellie Lake, Nieve Jenkins (Gwen Horgan, 46’), Chloe Chivers (Monet Legall, 78’), Katy Hosford © (Nia Rees, 75’), Stacey John-Davies, Lucy Finch, Meg Saunders (Chloe Tiley, 75’), Jess Williams (Lailah Muscat, 78’), Rachel Cullen
Goals: Stacey John-Davies (34’, 56’, 61’), Chloe Chivers (74’)
Yellow Cards: Ellie Lake (70’)
