Report | Pontypridd United Women 1 Swansea City Women 2

Swansea City Women continued their impressive run of form with victory away at Pontypridd United Women.

A first-half own goal sent the Swans into the break with the lead, having applied pressure throughout the opening half.

Katy Hosford doubled the lead early in the second half, picking out the top corner from a tight angle.

Ffion Simmonds pulled one back for the hosts, heading home from a free-kick to apply pressure late on, but the Swans held out for a 12 win in 13 games in call competitions as they kept the heat on at the top of the Genero Adran Premier table.

The visitors started brightly against the league’s bottom side, Hosford hitting the post with a looping cross in the first couple of minutes.

A minute later and Stacey John-Davis also came close to opening the scoring, Lucy Finch found her in space at the back post with a low cross, but the striker’s final effort was well saved by Klaudia Wojtyczka.

Pontypridd responded and Efa Preece Jones had an opportunity for the hosts when she found time on the edge of the box before shooting wide of the post.

Chances kept coming, with Sammy Wynne denied by a fine stop from Wojtyczka after being picked out by an Ellie Lake pass.

But the Swans would finally find a deserved break through, Robyn Pinder’s low cross caused chaos in the Pontypridd box and Clare Daley turned the ball into her own net.

The Swans continued to press for a second before the break, Hosford coming closest with a long-range free-kick that clipped the top of the bar.

But Hosford would have her goal straight after the interval, a great ball by Pinder released the forward into space out wide  before she curled a stunning strike into the top corner for her 10th league goal of the season.

However, any thoughts the Swans would ease to victory were dented when Simmonds headed home from a free-kick to halve Swansea’s lead.

The visitors looked to restore their two-goal advantage, Chloe Chivers tried an effort from distance before Finch headed just wide of the post.

But the Swans would hold on to secure a third consecutive win in 2024 as they continue to push league leaders Cardiff City Women.

Pontypridd United Women: Klaudia Wojtyczka, Shannon Greenway, Clare Daley (captain), Madison Williams, Jasmine Turner, Ellie Gunney (Ffion Simmonds 56), Katie Williams, Efa Jones, Nicole Fenton, Lucy Attwood (Lauren Payne 74), Lucy Jones.

Unused subs: Eleanor Brook, Holly Broad, Gracie Grosvenor.

Swansea City Women: Chelsea Herbert, Lucy Finch, Steph Turner (Alicia Powe 58), Ellie Lake, Rachel Cullen, Robyn Pinder, Chloe Chivers (Kelsey Thomas 88), Katy Hosford (captain), Stacey John-Davis, Sammy Wynne (Emily Thomas 66), Sophie Brisland-Hancocks.

Unused subs: Monet Legall, Imogen Harris.