Report | Swansea City Women 3 Cardiff Met Women 0

Swansea City Women continued their excellent run of form as they beat Cardiff Met Women in their first Genero Adran Premier fixture of 2024 thanks to second-half goals from Robyn Pinder and Katy Hosford.

The Swans had been frustrated after a number of first-half chances went astray, with Lucy Finch and Hosford coming the closest to finding an opener.

But Pinder would break the deadlock six minutes into the second period, hitting a stunning strike into the top-left corner to give her side a deserved lead.

Hosford then netted twice in the space of three minutes to make the lead unassailable and secure three points.

The Swans went into the game off the back of a dominant 5-0 win over Cardiff Met a week ago in the Genero Adran Trophy, but the visitors were bolstered by the returns of Grace Corne and Ingrid Aadland, as well as the addition of Nieve Jenkins.

The Swans started positively as captain Hosford tried an effort from a tight angle that found the side-netting inside the opening three minutes.

Sammy Wynne then found time on the edge of the box after some nice passing interplay, but the midfielder’s effort went just over the bar.

Finch came closest in the first half, a low effort from range forcing a good low save from the keeper.

Pinder thought she had given the Swans the lead, picking up a loose ball in the box following a corner to find the net, but she was judged to have been offside.

Jenkins had an opportunity for the visitors, her low effort forcing a good save from Chelsea Herbert, who pushed the ball around the post.

But the Swans responded and ended the half by creating two further chances. Hosford struck the post after getting into space down the left, while she and Stacey John-Davis were unable to convert after excellent pressing had won the ball back in the Met penalty area.

The dominance of the Swans continued in the second half, John-Davis sending a strike wide after being set up by Chloe Chivers.

But the hosts would finally get the breakthrough after 51 minutes, an excellent tackle from Ellie Lake winning the ball high up the pitch before Pinder hit a stunning strike into the top left corner of the net.

Hosford came close to doubling the advantage eight minutes later, rounding the goalkeeper only to see her effort cleared off the line by Sally Grimm.

Wynne then came close again, a nice bit of footwork finding her space in the box, but her strike would go over the bar.

However, the Swans would soon have their second, a great ball from Chivers picked out Hosford and she steered the ball into the net with her left foot.

Three minutes later the skipper would have a second, a cross from Lake setting her up to fire home.

Hosford almost had a hat-trick just three minutes later, turning her marker well before striking just past the post.

Pinder came close to her second goal in the final moments of the game following a great flick from Hosford, but nevertheless the Swans ran out comfortable winners.

Swansea City Women: Chelsea Herbert, Lucy Finch, Steph Turner, Ellie Lake, Rachel Cullen, Robyn Pinder, Chloe Chivers, Katy Hosford (captain), Stacey John-Davis (Imogen Harris 89), Sammy Wynne (Emily Thomas 78), Sophie Brisland-Hancocks.

Unused subs: Monet Legall, Kelsey Thomas, Halle Brace.

Cardiff Met Women: Carys Gittins, Sally Grimm, Anna Houghton, Tiggeraa Webb, Grace Corne, Emily Bayliss, Ellie Preece (Ingrid Aadland 46), Chelsea Cochrane (Eve Pearson 68), Esme Kliburn-Thompson, Nieve Jenkins, Erin Murray.

Unused subs: Daisy Farrow, Leah Samuel, Kennesha Nanette.