Report | Cardiff City Women 4 Swansea City Ladies 3
Swansea City Ladies bowed out of the FAW Women’s Cup at the semi-final stage after a seven-goal thriller away at Cardiff City Women.
It was the perfect start for the Swans who took the lead within three minutes when Laura Davies headed in at the back post from Chloe Chivers’ corner delivery, but the lead only lasted seven minutes with Amy Williams pulling one back for the home side after being played through brilliantly by Lily Billingham.
It was a tight affair after that. Williams nearly got a second for Cardiff but her effort whistled over the crossbar, while at the other end Chivers had a goal ruled out for offside and Ellie Lake fired narrowly wide.
The Bluebirds took the lead on the 35th minute when in-form striker Phoebie Poole converted from the spot, but Swansea were back on level terms in the 42nd minute when another Chivers delivery from a Swans corner caused the home side problems. This time Jessica Williams was there to head in.
They couldn’t hold on though and Cardiff retook the lead just before half-time. Seren Watkins’ corner evaded everyone and found the back of the net to make it 3-2 just before the break.
Much like the first half, Swans had a quick start and scored a leveller within seconds of kick-off. A foul outside the box, gave Chivers a shooting opportunity and she converted in stunning fashion as she found the top corner.
Once again, Swans struggled to build on their fast start and, while they battled hard, they were unable to get another goal.
Billingham and Poole linked up again shortly before the hour mark for the latter to slot calmly into the net to secure a place in the final.
Swans kept pushing and pilled on the pressure late on, but Alicia Powe’s header from the edge of the box was the closest they came to an equaliser.
Cardiff City Women: Chamberlain, Smith, Daley, Walsh, Price, Watkins, Broadhurst, Billingham, Atkins (Green 79’), Williams, Poole:
Unused substitutes: Forkings, Bayliss, Saunders, Major.
Swansea City Ladies: Skinner, Powe, Adams, Lake, K Adams, Chivers, Hosford, John-Davis, Davies, Williams (Oakley 83’), Carter.
Unused substitutes: Border, Jenkins, Horgan, Rees.