Report | Cascade YC Ladies 1 Swansea City Women 6

Swansea City Women progressed to the semi-finals of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup with a comfortable win over Cascade YC Ladies.

The Swans fell behind early on as Erin Parry’s long-range strike cannoned into the net off the crossbar.

But they responded in emphatic fashion with a quick-fire double from Stacey John-Davis.

Kelsey Thomas extended the Swansea lead just before the break, scoring her first goal for the club with a calm finish.

Skipper Katy Hosford made it 4-1 in the second half, arrowing a low effort into the net from the edge of the box, before sliding home her second goal in the 89th minute.

There was still time for Jasmine Guymer to bury an excellent strike into the top corner with the last kick of the game for her own first goal for the club, as the Swans marches into the last four.

The visitors had started brightly as Thomas broke in behind after just four minutes, but her shot was well saved.

Despite the Swans early dominance, Cascasde proved to be a threat on the counter, breaking from a number of Swansea set-pieces.

And Cascade would find the opener after 14 minutes, Parry’s stunning strike going in off the underside of the bar to put her side in front.

Hosford came close to levelling just two minutes later, getting a toe to a John-Davis cross, but she could not quite turn her effort on target.

But John-Davis would quickly find the equaliser, latching onto a great ball from Kelsey Thomas before firing home from close range.

Just eight minutes later it would be John-Davis who scored again to put the Swans in front, the striker bringing down a ball from Sophie Brisland-Hancocks before producing a spectacular lob to give her side a deserved lead.

John-Davis then almost turned provider as her corner found the head of Lucy Finch, but the full-back’s glancing header flew just wide of the post.

Kelsey Thomas extended the Swans lead six minutes before the break, using her pace to break through as Emily Thomas played her in on goal, before calmly slotting into the bottom left corner.

The Swans were hit with injury misfortune early in the second half as keeper Claire Skinner required treatment following a routine save. With no recognised goalkeeper on the Swans bench, Steph Turner took Skinner’s place between the sticks as Rachel Cullen was introduced from the bench.

Turner was quickly called into action, doing well to push a long-range effort from Cascade over the bar.

The Swans wouldn’t let the setback prove too great a disruption though, with Hosford soon making it 4-1 as she arrowed a shot into the corner of the net.

Hosford netted another late on to seal the win for her side, sliding a shot home as she broke through the defence to make it 5-1.

Then, with the last kick of the game, subsititue Guymer hit an excellent strike high into the net to seal a win that saw the Swans seal a their semi-final spot.

Cascade YC Ladies: Bethan Connolly, Charli Carroll, Casey Thomas, Daisy Evam-Watkins, Erin Parry, Katie Davies (captain) (Melissa James 79), Ellis Lunn, Annaliese Lewis (Molly Champman 44), Lauren Boyd, Mia Kemp (Phoebe Ware 79), Chrystalla Moreton (89).

Unused subs: Sophie Whittle.

Swansea City Women: Claire Skinner (Rachel Cullen 62), Lucy Finch, Steph Turner, Ellie Lake, Katy Hosford (captain) (Lindsay Wilson-Morgan 89), Stacey John-Davis, Sammy Wynne (Katie Lee 89), Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Kelsey Thomas (Robyn Pinder 57), Emily Thomas (Jasmine Guymer 89), Jess Williams.