Super Swansea City make blistering Adran Premier start at Barry Town

Swansea City started the new Adran Premier season in style with a 4-0 win away against Barry Town.

Chloe Chivers got proceedings underway just two minutes in with a jaw-dropping free kick from distance. Having started the game well, Barry goalkeeper Molly Arnesen was sent off for bringing down Aimee Deacon, and that allowed Swansea to take charge in the second half.

Chivers added a second goal before Stacey John-Davis and Emily Richards both opened their accounts for the season in what was a professional win for the Swans.

Barry manager Stevie McCarthy-Campbell named three of his new signings in his first eleven of the season. Lily Dalton started in defence, with Chelsea Cochrane in midfield and Beca Thomas in attack.

New permanent Swansea manager Yzzy Taylor handed a debut to goalkeeper Amelia Forkings, while fellow new signing Caitlin Seaborne was named on the bench.

Players always want to get off to a dream start in the opening game, and Chloe Chivers scored the opening goal of dreams just two minutes in. Lining up a free-kick from 40-yards out, Chivers unleashed a rocket into the top corner. The perfect way to start the season for the Swans.

The opener certainly gave the visitors plenty of confidence, and they set out to try and build on their advantage. However, Molly Arnesen was in top form. The keeper twice denied former Barry favourite Aimee Deacon, before making a great reaction save to stop Lauren Davies.

Arnesen’s fine form was providing a boost to the rest of her team as they tried to find a route back into the contest. Sienna Stone almost found it midway through the half, but her powerful strike smacked against the post.

But minutes later, a major flashpoint. Arnesen came rushing out of her goal to try and stop Deacon from advancing through, but her tackle was rash. The referee deemed her to have stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity and promptly sent the Barry number one off.

Arnesen’s replacement in goal was Emily Blunt, who was making her Adran Premier debut. The new keeper didn’t have much to do after coming on, with the red card taking a lot of energy away from, what was, an intense half.

Yet on the stroke of half time Blunt kept her team in the game. Chivers’ clipped ball over the top found the run of Deacon, but when the Swans forward pulled the trigger, she was thwarted by the outstretched leg of the keeper. Swansea one up at the break but knew deep down they should be leading by more.

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Barry came out a different team at the start of the second half and created two good chances to equalise. The first saw Stone denied by a fine save from Forkings, while substitute Ellie Preece couldn’t stretch out far enough to turn in Stone’s cross into the six-yard box.

How the Linnets would rue those missed chances as Swansea doubled their lead on the hour mark. A driven ball across the box was dummied expertly by Stacey John-Davis, and that allowed Chivers to stride onto the ball and find the bottom corner. Swansea’s number ten was on fire, and she almost completed her hat-trick moments later, but her audacious chip from distance crashed against the crossbar.

With the ten players of Barry tiring, Swansea went into a different gear and found another two goals before full time. John-Davis was given the freedom of Jenner Park and used it to dance her way into the box and finding the top corner, before substitute Emily Richards put the game beyond doubt by steering the ball past Blunt.

Barry almost found a consolation goal from a corner, but Angharad Beman’s header was cleared off the line spectacularly by Steph Turner, as Swansea took all three points back west.

Next up for Barry is an away trip to Wrexham, which will be broadcast live on Sgorio. Meanwhile, Swansea welcome Pontypridd United to Llandarcy.

Player of the Match: Chloe Chivers

Aside from her two incredibly well-taken goals, Chivers was a thorn in Barry’s side. It seemed that, whenever she picked up the ball, she was able to start an attack or create an opportunity. Chivers dominated physically, too and was able to float freely between midfield and attack—a great way to start the season for the number ten.

Barry Town

Molly Arnesen, Lily Dalton (Grace Corne 46’), Holly Jenkins, Chelsea Cochrane, Erin Murray (Keira Harris 74’), Danielle Broadhurst (Jasmine Turner 74’), Emily Freeman ©, Sienna Stone, Beca Thomas (Ellie Preece 46’), Amelia Herbert (Emily Blunt 26’), Angharad Beman

Unused subs: India Shanahan, Ellie Gunney

Yellows: Amelia Herbert (19’), Danielle Broadhurst (65’)

Reds: Molly Arnesen (23’)

Swansea City

Amelia Forkings, Lauren Davies, Maddy Murray (Eilish Mitchell 61’), Steph Turner (Caitlin Seaborne 80’), Maisie Miller (Caitlin Williams 62’), Sammy Wynne, Aimee Deacon (Emily Richards 71’), Chloe Chivers, Stacey John-Davis, Taite Trivett, Jess Williams ©

Unused subs: Opal Rayner

Goals: Chloe Chivers (2’, 61’), Stacey John-Davis (73’), Emily Richards (82’)

Yellows: Stacey John-Davis (17’)

(Featured Image: Geraint Nicholas/FAW)