Cardiff City triumphed over Swansea City 3-1, as they received their crown and went invincible at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Katy Hosford had put Swansea ahead with a sublime finish, but goals from Lily Billingham, Rhianne Oakley and Zoe Atkins sealed a comfortable win in the end for the Bluebirds.
Cardiff started the brightest of the two, having more possession, but in terms of chances, they were at a premium. Just as the Bluebirds got into a promising position, a last-ditch Swans tackle would stop them.
As Swansea were building into the game, Cardiff had their best chance. A Ffion Price free kick deflected off a Swansea head into the path of Rhianne Oakley, who was on the edge of the six-yard box. However, the forward couldn’t sort her feet out and couldn’t get a clear connection on the ball, and Swansea cleared.
Cardiff would rue that missed opportunity, as Swansea went ahead in fine fashion. An uncharacteristic sloppy pass from Siobhan Walsh fell into the path of Katy Hosford on the edge of the box, and she executed a sumptuous curling effort into the top corner to stun the Cardiff City Stadium.
But the Bluebirds weren’t behind for long, as they equalised four minutes later. Eliza Collie played a ball into Lily Billingham in the box, and her effort took a deflection and looped over Claire Skinner, as the sides went into the break level.
Just like in the first half, Cardiff started the better of the two and positioned themselves high up the pitch, but didn’t have much to show for it.
That was until the hour mark, as the Bluebirds snatched the lead. Collie did well to rob the ball high up the field, before playing it across to Oakley, and her shot flew past Skinner. Cardiff had turned it around.
Cardiff didn’t have a flurry of chances of the goal, but neither did Swansea dominate the ball, and they struggled to impose themselves for much for the second half.
Billingham could have made it worse for the Swans, as she drove through the defence and to the edge of the box, but her effort cannoned off the post.
Billingham was instrumental, however, when Cardiff did find their third. Another strong run through the midfield before her perfectly timed through ball found Zoe Atkins, who stroked the ball home.
The third goal really knocked the stuffing out of the Swans, who resorted to trying to kick Billingham out of the game, but the youngster took every tackle in her stride as she played Swansea off the park for most of the game.
Billingham and the rest of the team saw the Swans’ challenge off until the end, as they lifted the trophy in front of their adoring fans.
Player of the Match: Lily Billingham
Billingham put in a performance beyond her years today. Her vision, her positioning was second to none. The Swansea players really targeted her today, but she persevered and saw her job out until the end. Superb display from the youngster.
Cardiff City
Ceryn Chamberlain (GK), Lisa Owen (Mikayla Cook, 63’), Ffion Price, Hannah Power (Meg Bowen, 80’), Siobhan Walsh ©, Rhianne Oakley (Phoebie Poole, 63’), Danielle Broadhurst, Danielle Green, Manon Pearce (Zoe Atkins, 72’), Lily Billingham, Eliza Collie (Catherine Walsh, 72’)
Goals: Lily Billingham (40’), Rhianne Oakley (60’), Zoe Atkins (79’)
Yellow Cards: Mikayla Cook (76’)
Swansea City
Claire Skinner (GK), Shaunna Jenkins, Ellie Lake, Emma Beynon, Kelly Adams (Gwen Horgan, 80’), Katy Hosford ©, Stacey John-Davies, Chloe Tiley, Meg Saunders (Nia Rees, 64’), Jess Williams, Rachel Cullen
Unused Subs: Chelsea Herbert, Lailah Muscat, Megan Roberts
Goals: Katy Hosford (36’)
Yellow Cards: Rachel Cullen (83’)
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