Saints Women Suffer Home Loss Against Defending Champions

Match Report

Goals: Ridge (72)
Substitutions: Lockley for Griffiths (18), Rathe for Ashworth (84), Samson for Platt (88)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints FC Women remain bottom on goal difference after suffering a 5-1 loss against undefeated Swansea City Ladies.

Chris Church’s team’s goals came from Tija Richardson, Alicia Powe, Gwenan Horgan and a Katy Hosford brace.

The New Saints’ goal was from a second-half Emily Ridge phenomenal strike.

In the opening minutes of the game, Lucie Platt headed the ball on to Emily Ridge in the box as the forward shot at goal, but Gemma Border managed to save the chance.

In the seventh minute, Stacey John-Davies crossed a ball in for Swansea City, however Sarah Parkes was there to gather the ball.

Moments after, Ellie Lake had a shot from outside the penalty area that blasted wide of the post.

In the 12^th minute, Swans centre-half Shaunna Jenkins whipped in a ball from outside the 18-yard area that Parkes managed to gather once more.

A couple on Nia Rees ran with the ball and hit from outside the box as Parkes was there to collect the threat.

Seconds later, Rees played a through ball to John-Davies with the no.12 shooting just wide of the post.

17 minutes in, Katy Hosford hit a free kick from yards out which hit the crossbar as straight after The Saints manged to clear their lines with the Swans knocking once more.

Chris Church’s team took the lead in the 20^th minute as the ball got whipped in by Hosford from a corner with Tija Richardson there in the box to head the opportunity in the net.

Three minutes after, Rhianne Oakley played a through ball to John-Davies as the forward hit the ball away from the TNS goal.

In the 26^th minute, a miscommunication in TNS’ own box saw the ball fall to Hosford who tapped it into an empty net for Swansea to double their lead.

On the half hour mark, Kelly Adams had an opportunity on the 18-yard line that just went over  Parkes’ crossbar.

A minute later, John-Davies had another chance for Swansea from just inside the box which Parkes then made an excellent saving dive to deny the forward.

The away side took a 3-0 lead in the 36^th minute when Richardson passed the ball across the goal to the defending champions captain, Alicia Powe. Powe then tapped the ball in the net.

On the stroke of half-time substitute, Tia Lockley had a chance for Andy Williams’ team that just glanced over the Swansea crossbar.

At the start of the second forty-five, Oakley whipped in a ball from a corner that found Lauren Davies head wide of the post.

In the 49^th minute, Ellie Lake had a shot from 20-yards out for Swansea which Parkes gathered comfortably.

Three on, Ria Hughes got a shot in the box for the away-side that went wide of TNS’ post.

56 minutes in, John-Davies got on the end of a through ball and shot on target as Parkes then managed to tip the chance wide.

Just before the hour mark, John-Davies had a free-kick right on the 18-yard line that ended up powering wide of the TNS post.

In the 64^th minute, Hosford got the Swans fourth as she hit supreme strike from 25-yards away that went into Parkes’ top left side of the net.

TNS got a goal back in the 72^nd as stand in captain Ridge scored from 35-yards out after catching Border off her line, the forward managed to chip the keeper to get a consolation goal for the home-side. This was Ridge’s first goal back since returning to Park Hall.

In the 78^th minute, John-Davies had another chance for herself after getting on the end of a through ball she shot at goal, but Parkes was there to stop the chance.

The Swans got a fifth in the 87^th minute through Gwenan Horgan added a fifth after she played a one-two and ran on in goal and slotted home past Parkes’ right.

TNS will next be in action against Pontypridd Town AFC Women in the Genero Adran Premier away at the USW Sports Park next Sunday.