Report | Swansea City Ladies 6 Cardiff City Women 0

Swansea City Ladies thrashed Cardiff City to remain the favourites to successfully defend their Welsh Premier Women’s League title.

The Swans raced into a three-goal lead to all but seal the three points by half-time courtesy of strikes from Laura Davies, Tija Richardson and Katy Hosford.

The home side then pushed on in the second half as Hosford bagged herself a hat-trick and Stacey John-Davis also got on the scoresheet.

The Ladies now have one game remaining in the WPWL against Abergavenny next Sunday, knowing they will lift the trophy if they avoid defeat.

Swansea got the first sniff of goal after Hosford’s corner caused a moment of brief panic for Cardiff but John-Davis’ close-range shot was hit over the bar.

Another Hosford corner caused havoc just minutes later as Davies got onto the end of the delivery and hooked the ball into the back of the net.

Richardson doubled the lead with a looping header as she leapt up to divert Davies’ corner into the far corner.

The hosts were three goals to the good with only 24 minutes gone as Hosford followed up John-Davis’ saved shot to tap the ball in from point-blank range.

Swansea were not tested defensively whatsoever in the first half and Richardson looked to extend the lead as she fired a shot off from outside the box, but Charlotte Hastings in the Cardiff goal gathered it comfortably.

Emma Beynon came close to adding a fourth in the early stages of the second half as she was picked out in the middle by Hosford, but the midfielder could only direct her shot just wide of the mark.

Hosford then bagged her brace as she beat Hastings to the ball and headed home Richardson’s cross from the right wing.

There were then high fives all around as John-Davis pounced on Hastings’ fumble to tap it home.

John-Davis had a golden chance to further increase the lead but she was only able to find the far post in a one-on-one situation.

Chloe Chivers played a dangerous cross into the box and picked out Chloe Tiley, but the substitute was unbale to get a good enough connection on the ball to turn it goalward.

Hosford emphasised Swansea’s superiority as the winger secured her hat-trick by turning home Chivers’ cross with just four minutes left.

Swansea City: Claire Skinner, Ellie Lake, Shaunna Jenkins (Jess Williams 64), Alicia Powe (C), Ria Hughes, Tija Richardson, Emma Beynon (Nieve Jenkins 64), Laura Davies (Chloe Chivers 57), Kelly Adams, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis (Chloe Tiley 71).

Subs not used: Gemma Border, Kate Searle, Kelsey Thomas.

Cardiff City: Charlotte Hastings, Lisa Owen, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C) (Sophie Norman 18), Danielle Broadhurst, Danielle Green, Jasmine Simpson, Ellie Jones, Pheobe Pool (Michaela Major 56), Catherine Walsh (Eliza Collie 56), Cerys Pinchard.

Subs not used: Ceryn Chamberlain, Charley Hocking, Zoe Atkins, Carys Minton.