By Owen Morgan
Two goals in eight second-half minutes saw Swansea City Ladies come from behind to beat their Cardiff counterparts 2-1 in the FAW Women’s Welsh Cup final.
A nerveless penalty by Jodie Passmore and a long-range effort from Katy Horsford overturned Alana Murphy’s strike for Cardiff to bring Swansea their third Welsh Cup success in the tournament’s 26-year history.
Swansea had reached Sunday’s final, held at Cardiff City Stadium, by overwhelming Port Talbot Town Ladies 5-1 in the semi-final, while Cardiff had booked their place in the final with a 1-0 win over Cyncoed Ladies.
The early exchanges were understandably nervy given the occasion and the playing conditions, which were made tricky to judge by several heavy showers intermingled with periods of strong sunshine before and during the match.
Swans captain Alicia Powe was booked for a foul in the sixth minute which gave Shannon Evans a shooting chance from the free-kick, but she fired too high.
A second Swansea player, Alison Witts, found her way into the referee’s book after bringing down Evans on 16 minutes.
As the players started to settle into the game, it was the Swansea Ladies who looked the more comfortable, albeit without being able to carve out clear cut openings.
Their attempts were restricted to long range efforts and crosses which Cardiff keeper Ceryn Chamberlain dealt with comfortably.
Chamberlain did have to come smartly off her line to save bravely at the feet of Stacey John-Davies in first half stoppage time, but the Swansea player was ruled offside.
With the scores level at the interval, Swansea again started the second-half well, but it was Cardiff who were to take the lead.
On 54 minutes good work down the right hand flank by Evans, saw her pick out Alana Murphy, who produced a clinical finish to beat the Swansea keeper.
To their credit, Swansea didn’t panic and continued to marginally enjoy the better of the game, although clear-cut chances were at a premium at both ends.
A feature of the game was the high level of commitment shown on both sides, with some excellent aerial challenges and perfectly timed tackles flying in as they tried to get the upper hand in the evenly matched contest.
However, it was Swansea’s perseverance which finally paid off when they were awarded a penalty in the 64th minute.
Jody Passmore, who had been busy throughout, stepped up to calmly slot the spot-kick to the right of Cardiff keeper Chamberlain, who guessed correctly but couldn’t keep the ball out.
Boosted by the goal, Swansea went in search of a second, and it duly came in the 72nd minute.
Katy Horsfold picked up the ball wide on the left, just inside the Cardiff half, and hit a speculative cross-shot which dipped wickedly under the angle of crossbar and post.
Despite the desperate efforts of Chamberlain, who got her hands to the ball, she couldn’t keep it out under the close attention of an onrushing Swansea player following up in the hope of a rebound.
Try as Cardiff might to find an equaliser, it was Swansea who looked the more likely to score in the closing stages.
Five minutes of stoppage time gave the home team renewed hope but the visitors held on for the win, which sparked joyous celebrations at the final whistle and beyond as the champagne corks were popped on the presentation podium.
The final attracted a healthy attendance of 476 on what was a showery Sunday afternoon. With the current success of the national team in their World Cup qualifying group, allied to high profile and closely contested occasions like this one, the future of the women’s game in Wales is looking promising.