Jamie Sherwood | We made errors and were punished

First-team manager Jamie Sherwood admitted Swansea City Women had paid the price for individual errors in their 3-1 Genero Adran Trophy final defeat against The New Saints Women.

The Swans conceded three goals in the opening 26 minutes.

Caitlin Williams’ pass across her own box was picked off and dispatched by Chantelle Teare as TNS led inside two minutes.

Lexi Jones made it two with a great strike from the edge of the box, after the Swans had lost possession deep in their own half.

Lauren Davies then turned the ball into her own net at the back post when trying to deal with a deep cross.

Stacey John-Davis pulled one back for the Swans when she cut out a pass from the TNS keeper, but it was not enough to spark a fightback as Swansea lost the Trophy final for the second year running.

Sherwood rued the errors that proved key to his side’s defeat and ensured an improved second-half showing was not enough.

“Three errors have led to our downfall,” said Sherwood.

“It was a big occasion for the players, we ask the players to be brave and play, but in the first half we weren’t good enough on the ball.

“In the first half, three individual errors cost us and we had an uphill battle after that.

“In the second half I thought we were excellent, we had a discussion at half-time and said we needed to be better with the ball and we did that.

“I think the girls are more than capable of doing that for 90 minutes, they are a group that has great pride and great togetherness and that first half wasn’t a true reflection of us.

“The second half was definitely a true reflection of what we are capable of doing, I don’t think TNS troubled us in the second half and were very much happy for the final whistle.

Sherwood and his team have two big tests looming on the horizon courtesy of a Bute Energy Welsh Cup quarter-final away at Wrexham, before a home league fixture versus the same opponents a week later in a straight shoot out for the final spot in the championship phase.

“There is no other option but to win both those games,” said Sherwood

“It’s a cup quarter-final next week, it’s quite simple, we go to win a game of football.

“We play against Wrexham again in the final game of the first phase of the league season, and top four is a must."