Report | Cardiff City Women 0 Swansea City Women 2
Swansea City Women earned a crucial south Wales derby victory over Cardiff City Women to end their opponent's long unbeaten run in the Genero Adran Premier and close the gap in the title race to five points.
The Swans dominated the opening 45 minutes and got their reward as a stunning long-range strike from Chloe Chivers broke the deadlock.
The hosts were improved after the break at Leckwith, but Katy Hosford would double Swansea's lead with 10 minutes remaining to end Cardiff's long run without defeat in the Welsh top-flight, which had stretched back over 18 months.
Seeking to respond after dropping points against Aberystwyth last time out, the Swans started off brightly.
Chivers found space down the right before firing off a shot from a tight angle, which Cardiff keeper Ceryn Chamberlain push onto her post.
Swansea defender Jess Williams came close to an opener 10 minutes later, getting a head to Hosford’s corner but sending her glancing effort just wide.
The Swans continued to cause a threat from set-pieces, Chivers’ corner found Stacey John-Davis, who headed over the crossbar.
But the Swans would make their dominance count seven minutes before the break. Chivers picked up the ball some 35 yards from goal before hitting a stunning strike past Chamberlain to give her side a much-deserved lead.
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly in the second half, but they didn’t cause too many problems for Chelsea Herbert in the Swansea goal.
Instead the visitors threatened again; Chivers tried her look from distance, but Chamberlain was this time equal to her effort.
The first real chance of the game for the hosts came 70 minutes in. Mikalya Cook cut inside onto her right foot and forced a good save from Herbert. The rebound would fall to Hannah Power in the box, but she was unable to get her effort on target.
The Bluebirds committed numbers forward and began to pile on pressure, but an excellent defensively display from Sophie Brisland-Hancocks and Williams kept the Cardiff forwards at bay.
That resilience got its reward with 10 minutes remaining as Swansea doubled their lead. Ellie Lake's cross to the back post found Hosford for the captain to tap home.
The goal put the seal on the derby-day win, as the Swans narrowed the gap between the sides as phase one of the Genero Adran Premier season drew to a close.
Cardiff City Women: Ceryn Chamberlain, Lisa Owen, Ffion Price, Hannah Power, Siobhan Walsh (captain), Megan Bowen, Seren Watkins, Kerry Walklett (Rhianne Oakley 60), Olivia Basham (Mikayla Cook 56), Hollie Smith, Tija Richardson (Madison Lloyd 78).
Unused subs: Anna Phelps, Grace Evans.
Swansea City Women: Chelsea Herbert, Lucy Finch, Ellie Lake, Rachel Cullen, Robyn Pinder (Emily Thomas 46), Chloe Chivers, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis, Sammy Wynne, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Jess Williams.
Unused subs: Steph Turner, Monet Legall, Kelsey Thomas, Imogen Harris.
