Ceri Phillips | I thought we did enough to win the game

Swansea City Ladies head coach Ceri Phillips was proud of his team’s performance despite a late Cardiff City Women equaliser denying them all three points in the opening game of phase two in the Genero Adran Premier.

Stacey John-Davis put the Swans ahead just before half-time, heading home a cross from Chloe Chivers.

Danielle Broadhurst found an equaliser for the visitors early in the second half, but John-Davis would convert her second from the spot after Monet Legall’s shot was handled in the box.

The Swans seemed to be holding strong despite pressure from the Bluebirds, but a 97th minute strike from league top scorer Phoebie Poole forced Swansea to settle for a point.

Phillips was disappointed that his side couldn’t hold on for all three points and felt his side did enough to earn a win.

“It’s a bit of a sucker punch to concede with effectively the last kick of the game with all the extra minutes of stoppage time,” said Phillips.

“I thought we did enough to win the game and I thought we were the better side on reflection, Cardiff had a really good spell in the second half but I thought we weathered the storm well.

“We had a couple of chances to kill the game off in the second half, but it just really hurts when it happens like that.

“As difficult as it is for the players, it’s almost a mark of respect when they score a late goal like that and celebrates to the extent that they did for an equaliser.

“The table doesn’t lie, and they are doing really well this season, full credit to them. In the last two games we felt that we’d done enough to get something from the game, this game more so than the last one.

“We defended resiliently, we were like warriors for large parts of the second half, I thought we had the better chances, but they had more possession.

“Stacey John-Davis and Chloe Chivers are two forwards that would frighten anyone in this league, so it was good to see that partnership in the wide areas coming off again.

“I thought the whole team played well and we utilised the team as best we could, Chelsea Herbert in goal was outstanding in the first half.

“Regardless of the outcome, we are just taking it one game at a time, we’re going to work hard and throw everything at it and see where it takes us.”