Despite Ridge double, Saints Women fall to Swans

Match Report

Goals: Ridge (32), (84).
Substitutions: Lockley for Teare (86), Williams for Gresham (86), Samson for Platt (90).

Match report by Michael Davies

It was a tough night in south Wales, as The New Saints Women lost 5-2 to Swansea City Ladies at Llandarcy Academy of Sport in the Genero Adran Premier.

The Swansea City goals came from a Katy Hosford, Ellie Lake and Nieve Jenkins in the first 45 before Stacey John-Davis and Monet Legall found the back of the net in the second-half. The New Saints hit back from two goals by Emily Ridge in either half.

Wednesday night’s result means The Saints’ hopes of top four are now holding on by a thread.

The New Saints Women had the first chance in the tenth minute, as Beth Lewis had an effort from 25-yards that Chelsea Herbert managed to gather.

Swansea City Ladies took the lead soon after with their first shot in the 15th minute. Skipper Katy Hosford hit an effort from outside the box that went into Sarah Parkes’ bottom-left corner of the net.

The Swans came close to a second in the 23rd minute. Hosford whipped in a corner that found Jessica Williams in the box, who headed at goal, but Sarah Parkes made a magnificent to catch to deny the number 23.

It was a two goal lead for Ceri Phillips’ side moments on, when Ellie Lake found the top corner of the net from just outside of the 18-yard area.

The Saints got a goal back just past the half-hour mark. A brilliant over-the-top found ball found Emily Ridge and this season’s top scorer chipped Herbert from 20-yards out to find the back of the net.

Swansea opened up the game to two once more in the 40th minute. In almost a repeat of the first goal, Hosford whipped in a corner that found Nieve Jenkins and the number nine scored a header from the near post.

Helen Evans almost produced a repeat of her goal at Pontypridd United, as the number 18 hit a free-kick from 30-yards out that hit the crossbar and got cleared.

In the 67th minute, Stacey John-Davis got on the end of an over-the-top-ball and had an effort in the box that Parkes caught.

Three later, Nia Rees put the ball in the back of the net for the defending champions, however the number 22 was caught offside, as the Swans came close once again.

Swansea added a fourth in the 76th minute, but not without controversy. A free-kick was played into John-Davis and the winger scored from close range. The linesman then put his flag up for offside, however the referee overruled his assistant to give the goal.

Not long later, the home side got a fifth. Hosford hit the the crossbar from outside the box and Swansea new signing, Monet Legall hit the ball into the net from six-yards out.

TNS got a second back soon after, and it was not far off a replication of the first. Beth Lewis played an over-the-top ball to Ridge, who scored into the corner of Herbert’s net.

Greg Draper’s team are next in action against Abergavenny at Park Hall Stadium on Sunday (February 5th).