Report | Swansea City Women 0 Barry Town United Women 0
Swansea City Women extended their unbeaten record at the Swansea.com Stadium but suffered frustration as they were held to a goalless draw by Barry Town United Women.
The Swans dominated territory and possession for much for much of the afternoon, but could not beak down a dogged and well-organised Barry defence.
Robyn Pinder and Katy Hosford forced good saves from Barry keeper Molly Arnesen, while Stacey John-Davis and Maddy Murray also went close.
Jamie Sherwood’s side also had two goals ruled out for offside in their home opener in the Genero Adran Premier.
The result means the hosts are unbeaten in four games at the Swansea.com Stadium, but they would undoubtedly have been targeting all three points after starting their campaign with a win over Cardiff Met a week ago.
The Swans enjoyed the majority of possession during the opening exchanges, and John-Davis headed an Emily Thomas cross over the bar in just the fourth minute.
They also had a 12th-minute strike from Taite Trivett ruled out as the forward ran onto a through ball to finish, only for the offside flag to quickly be raised.
But the visitors defended stubbornly for the most part, and lifted the siege to win a free-kick that led to a Lauren Harris strike that Claire Skinner in the Swansea goal did well to hold.
Barry came forward again, and Erin Murray went close to finding the net with a stunning volley that flew narrowly over the bar.
Swansea responded, John-Davis fired over before her pass found Robyn Pinder in space, with the forward’s near-post shot tipped away by Molly Arnesen.
And the Barry keeper followed that up with a fine save from a rising Hosford drive.
It remained goalless at the break and the pattern of the game remained unchanged early in the second period, Swansea having plenty of the ball and trying to break down a deep-lying Barry defence.
Sherwood turned to his bench as Aimee Deacon replaced Trivett, and the teenager was soon appealing for a penalty after she appeared to be pushed in the box but the referee was not interested.
Instead Barry had the next sight of goal as a ball over the top freed Ellie Preece seconds after her introduction as a substitute, but Skinner held her low shot.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net with 19 minutes to go when Maddy Murray tapped in John-Davis’ low pass but the assistant referee adjudged the latter had been narrowly offside in the lead up.
Hosford was then found unmarked in the area, but her header was cut out by an excellent covering challenge from the Barry defence.
Murray then steered a strike agonisingly wide after good link work on the edge of the area.
Swansea City Women: Claire Skinner, Lucy Finch, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Danielle Broadhurst (Maddy Murray 67), Robyn Pinder, Katy Hosford (captain), Stacey John-Davis, Taite Trivett (Aimee Deacon 55), Emily Thomas, Jess Williams, Nia Jones.
Unused Substitutes: Steph Turner, Rachel Cullen, Emily Richards.
Barry Town United Women: Molly Arneson, Lauren Harris (captain), Holly Jenkins, Erin Murray (Chloe Tiley 82), Amy Long, Keira Harris (Ellie Preece 63), Jasmine Turner (Sienna Stone 63), Ingrid Aadland (Lucy Attwood 82), Carys Bufton, Ellie Gunney (Grace Corne 73), Angharad Beman.
Referee: Ben Williams