Report | Swansea City Women 2 Cardiff City Women 0
Swansea City Women bounced back from midweek defeat to beat Genero Adran Premier champions Cardiff City at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.
Katy Hosford put the Swans ahead, stepping up to the penalty spot and converting after being brought down in the box.
Emily Thomas would double the Swans lead after the break after Robyn Pinder slid the forward through on goal to tap home the home side’s second goal.
The win saw the Swans secure second place in the Genero Adran Premier, with third-placed Wrexham now six points behind the Swans with one game remaining for the north Wales outfit.
The Swans had seen their title hopes ended by a 4-0 defeat to the Bluebirds in midweek, but they started positively on home turf.
Thomas caused the Cardiff defence trouble from the off, and she broke down the right on two occasions within the opening 10 minutes, with keeper Ceryn Chamberlain denying both her efforts.
Thomas went close again just two minutes later as she linked up well with Chloe Chivers before rounding the Chamberlain, but the Cardiff defence recovered well to deny her.
But the Swans would finally get a deserved breakthrough. Hosford twisted and turned in the Cardiff box and was brought down by Lisa Owen.
The skipper stepped up to the spot and found the net from 12 yards for her 19th goal in all competitions this season.
Cardiff had a chance to level with five minutes to go before the break, Olivia Basham broke through before dragging her effort wide after good pressure from Ellie Lake.
The Bluebirds also started the second half brightly, substitute Rhianne Oakley dribbled down the left before firing in a shot that was well blocked on the line by Sophie Brisland-Hancocks.
The hosts responded and went close to a second goal. Sammy Wynne’s pass gave Hosford time to get away a left-footed shot that rattled the crossbar.
It was proving an end-to-end contest, and the Swans would need to clear off the line again when keeper Chelsea Herbert saved Owen’s shot, and Lake got in the way of Molly Kehoe’s effort from the rebound.
Those defensive efforts would be rewarded. Pinder led a sharp Swansea attack before sending Thomas through on goal to tap home her first senior league goal for the club and double the lead.
Herbert was called into action again, with Mikalya Cook’s curling effort forcing a great low save from the Swans stopper.
The home side nearly added a third goal with 20 minutes to go, Jess Williams connected well with Chivers’ corner, but her effort cannoned off the underside of the bar.
Swansea City Women: Chelsea Herbert, Lucy Finch (Rhian Williams 56), Ellie Lake, Rachel Cullen, Robyn Pinder, Chloe Chivers (Imogen Harris 80), Katy Hosford (captain), Sammy Wynne, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Emily Thomas (Kelsey Thomas 80), Jess Williams.
Unused substitutes: Opal Rayner, Meg Roberts.
Cardiff City Women: Ceryn Chamberlain, Lisa Owen, Ffion Price, Hannah Power (captain) (Mikayla Cook 46), Megan Bowen, Seren Watkins (Molly Kehoe 46), Kerry Walklett, Kelly Adams, Olivia Basham, Hollie Smith (Emma Beynon 65), Eliza Collie (Rhianne Oakley 46).
Unused substitutes: Anna Phelps.