Saints Women run defending champions close at Park Hall

Match Report

Goals: B.Lewis (34)
Substitutions: Jarvie for B.Lewis (90+1)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image by Brian Jones

The New Saints Women lost 3-1 in a narrow encounter to Swansea City Ladies at Park Hall Stadium in the Genero Adran Premier.

Nia Rees and Emma Benyon scored early on before Beth Lewis hit back for The New Saints before the break from the penalty spot. Swansea City confirmed that they were heading home with three points late on when Katy Hosford netted a 30-yard wonder strike.

The result keeps Andy Williams’ team in fourth in the Adran Premier with six points.

The first opportunity of the match came in third minute when Lucie Platt hit a free-kick from just outside the penalty area, with the effort hit over the crossbar.

Swansea City took the lead against the run of the play a couple of minutes later, when a ball was crossed in from Shauna Jenkins that found Nia Rees who tapped home from 5-yards away.

Rees had another shot at goal in the 10th, when the Swans forward hit the ball within the 18-yard area which went wide of the net.

It was two for the away team in the 12th minute. A ball was crossed in once more, that lead to a scrap in the penalty area for the ball, but found Emma Benyon, the no.6 slotted it into the net.

The Saints came back knocking later on in the half, Lexie Harrison hit a shot from 20-yards away that Chelsea Herbert saved.

Straight after, Ceri Phillips’ team were back up the other end, as Katy Hosford had attempt from close range that Sarah Parkes denied.

Andy Wiliams’ team got one back from a penalty past the half hour mark when Harrison got brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Beth Lewis then converted the follow up kick, as the skipper sent Herbert the wrong way.

Before the break, Kelly Adams had an effort from 20-yards out that went over the TNS net.

In the second forty-five Swansea broke forward with the ball past the hour mark, Jenkins intercepted the ball in the midfield and ran it into the box, where Parkes made a magnificent save from a Jenkins attempt.

Not long after Adams hit the ball from 25-yards out for the south Wales side, as the chance went wide.

Swans came looking for a third when a cross went into Hosford, who was unmarked, however the no.11 headed wide.

TNS almost equalised in the 81st when Harrison played a through ball to Chantelle Teare who hit wide. of the net.

The away team sealed the three points in the 87th minute. Hosford had a strike from 30-yards away that went flying into Parkes’ net.

Andy Williams’ team are next in action on Sunday (October 23) away at Cardiff City.