Report | Swansea City Women 3 Pontypridd United Women 1
Swansea City Women returned to winning ways with victory at home to Pontypridd United Women in the Genero Adran Premier.
Captain Katy Hosford gave the Swans the lead after tapping home at the back post from a Chloe Chivers cross.
Robyn Pinder doubled their lead just two minutes later, flicking home Hosford’s corner at the near post for her second goal of the season.
Pontypridd pulled one back early in the second half, a stunning strike from Nadia Lawrence giving keeper Claire Skinner no chance.
But Nieve Jenkins would seal three points for the home side late on, tucking her effort into the bottom-left corner to earn three points in Chris Church’s first game as interim head coach.
The Swans started brightly, Hosford firing just over the bar after a great run into the box.
However, the visitors had a chance to go ahead just 15 minutes in, Ellie Gunney was found in the box from a free-kick, but her effort hit the side-netting.
At the other end, Steph Turner came close to her first goal for the Swans, a great delivery from Jess Williams finding the defender at the back post, but her shot was pushed round the post for a corner.
But Hosford would find the breakthrough for the Swans, Chivers picked her out at the back post to tap home her third goal of the season.
The Swans would double their lead just two minutes later, Hosford turning provider as her corner was converted from close range by Pinder.
Chances kept coming for the hosts and Chivers would come close to making it three just before the break, her long-range effort whistling past just by the post.
But the Swans couldn’t maintain the control they had enjoyed after the interval, with chances for Pontypridd’s Carys Bufton and Lucy Jones early in the second half.
A long stoppage after Jones suffered a head injury further disrupted the flow of the game, although thankfully she able to continue following attention from the physios.
Hosford came close to her second of the afternoon, breaking down the left before getting away a shot that clipped the outside of the post.
Instead, the visitors would pull one back thanks to a stunning strike from Jones, her long-range effort lobbing Skinner in the Swansea goal.
With the game back in the balance the hosts had the welcome sight of Stacey John-Davis returning to action from the bench just 21 days after being sidelined following a shoulder injury on the opening day of the season.
The forward had the chance to give the Swans some breathing space after a foul on Monet Legall saw the home side awarded a penalty, but John-Davis saw her spot-kick saved.
John-Davis came close once again, finding space down the left, but she was not quite able to find the bottom corner.
However, the Swans would seal victory two minutes into added time, Jenkins capitalising on a mix-up at the back to restore the Swans two-goal lead and secure the three points.
Swansea City Women: Claire Skinner, Alicia Powe, Lucy Finch, Steph Turner, Rachel Cullen (Nieve Jenkins 75), Robyn Pinder (Monet Legall 82), Chloe Chivers (Stacey John-Davis 75), Katy Hosford (captain), Sammy Wynne (Ellie Latronico 90), Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Jess Williams.
Unused subs: Megan Roberts.
Pontypridd United Women: Klaudia Wojtyczka, Clare Daley (captain), Madison Williams (Katie Williams 71), Jasmine Turner, Ellie Gunney, Nia Jones (Shannon Greenway 87, Carys Bufton (Kate Wood 71), Gracie Grosvenor (Efa Preece Jones 41), Sophie Topper, Nadia Lawrence, Lucy Jones.
Unused subs: Anna Phelps.
