Report | Swansea City Ladies 1 Cardiff City Women 1

Swansea City Ladies had to settle for a point as they played out an entertaining draw against league leaders Cardiff City Women at the Swansea.com Stadium.

More than 1,300 fans were in attendance as the defending Genero Adrian Premier champions played at the home of the Swans for the second time this season.

And they saw Katy Hosford open the scoring for the Swans early in the second half when she was played though by Stacey John-Davis.

However, the home side were pegged back with 20 minutes remaining when Phoebie Poole’s looping effort found the back of the net and denied the hosts the chance to narrow the gap to the leaders at the top of the standings.

The two teams had entered the game in good form, but it proved a cagey opening with neither side able to impose themselves.

The visitors had the best of the nervy, early exchanges with the Swans’ conceding a number of half-chances as loose passes were picked off by the tenacious Bluebirds front line.

But determined defending meant that Seren Watkins’ effort from 20 yards, which was pulled wide of the near post, was the closest Cardiff came to hitting the target in this period.

After around 20 minutes, the home side settled into things. and chances followed as they began to play with fluency.

Ellie Lake and Nia Rees linked up brilliantly down the right, with the former unleashing a fierce effort from a very tight angle which visiting keeper Ceryn Chamberlain was able to palm away.

And the Cardiff keeper was called into action again when Hosford was brought down outside the box; the forward forcing Chamberlain into a stop with the resulting free-kick.

At the other end, Cardiff showed glimpses of what has made them so formidable this season. Danielle Green curled a right-footed strike narrowly wide of the far post, while Rhianne Oakley went down in the Swans box under the challenge of Shaunna Jenkins, but referee Charlotte Carpenter waved away the penalty appeal.

Hosford’s corner delivery then caused real problems in the Cardiff box, but the visitors reacted to block shots from Nieve Jenkins and Emma Beynon, before Rees’ cut-back was inches from finding John-Davis for a simple finish.

Chances continued to fall the Swans way. John-Davis pulled a shot wide after Hosford’s through-ball got her in behind the Cardiff defence.

Kelly Adams’ determination then meant she was able to dig out a shot while sprawled on the floor, but it didn’t trouble the keeper, before Hosford scuffed an effort wide after a brilliant solo run.

Despite their good play, Ceri Phillips’ side could perhaps count themselves fortunate not to be behind at the break after Hollie Smith somehow managed to head over from close range after a corner had found her completely unmarked in the centre of the Swans.

The hosts made the most of the let off when Hosford gave them the lead early in the second half.

Shaunna Jenkins showed good composure to bring the ball out of defence and chip the ball into John-Davis, who in turn send an excellent cross-field pass to Hosford.

It initially looked like the Swans’ number 11 had taken a touch too many as she left herself a narrow angle, but an inch-perfect finish across the keeper saw Hosford’s shot nestle just inside the post.

After withstanding some pressure from the visitors, which was dealt with by the Swans back line, Beynon nearly doubled her side’s lead from a corner. Hosford’s delivery was met by Chamberlain but she was only able to tip it towards the Swans skipper. However, Beynon’s first-time effort was over the bar.

Cardiff’s Poole then drew the visitors level with 20 minutes remaining. After restricting the visitors for so long, the Swans were undone by a looping effort from distance which had Swans keeper Claire Skinner scrambling back towards her goal line.

She did get her fingertips to it, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball out.

Jess Williams looked to have regained the lead for the Swans late on with a powerful header from another dangerous corner delivery, but the officials deemed Chamberlain had done enough to stop it crossing the line, to ensure the spoils were shared.

Swansea City: Claire Skinner (GK), Shaunna Jenkins, Ellie Lake, Emma Beynon (captain), Kelly Adams, Nieve Jenkins, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis, Nia Rees (Monet Legall 66’), Jess Williams, Rachel Cullen (Gwen Horgan 86’).

Unused substitutes: Chelsea Herbert (GK), Chloe Tiley, Emily Freeman.

Attendance: 1,376