Issue 155

Final failure for UWS

08th May 2007

Swansea 2 - Glamorgan 6

Swansea were comprehensively beaten in the Welsh Cup final, despite putting up a brave fight right to the end.

The score line flattered Glamorgan who were never as dominant as scoring six goals would suggest.

However they were much quicker of the mark than a Swansea side whose minds seemed to be still on the bus, and they put two past Swansea inside the opening quarter of an hour.

The first involved Glamorgan stepping and picking their way past the green tacklers to poke the ball past goalkeeper Jess Samuel. Swansea did not react well to this and consequently Glamorgan curled a second in after flooding the box and pressing hard.

This spurned a change as Swansea rallied themselves and pushed up in search of goals. They created chances and even managed to put the ball off the post before being caught on the counter-attack for a tap in against the run of play. The game continued from the restart in much the same vein, with Swansea pushing forward and Glamorgan attempting the counter attack and it was one of these that created the goalmouth scramble that led to the fourth goal and a dejected Swansea side.

Swansea slumped off the pitch to be berated by Captain Leah Aryton, who had to come off at half time, the effect of a physical match. What she said clearly worked and from the sidelines she could coach the team and add some structure. Swansea composed themselves and went in search of goals.

Swansea's first came courtesy of Nia Gape, who turned, controlled and then lashed in the ball from a corner at short range. This inspired the whole team who pushed forward and were eventually rewarded with a second after Tasha Trottman crashed through the Glamorgan defence only to be tripped by the keeper, but the ball was tapped home in the follow up to bring Swansea within 2. Further longer range chances were created with Trottman's long range chip sailing just past the far post and Leesha Traynor's free kick slamming into the side netting.

However this was the end of the Swansea fight back as soon as Glamorgan got into the box, some theatrics earned them a penalty which was duly converted with Samuel rooted to the spot.

Swansea battled on but just before the end of the match were made to pay one last time for poor defending as a low corner swung in and was tapped in without much of a defensive effort, but heads had gone down and it showed in Swansea's play.

Although they fought on there was a depressed facet to their game. Despite their draw with Glamorgan earlier in the season, the heat of the day had obviously taken its toll and Glamorgan ran out worthy winners, their internationals proving too much to handle.

Stuart Phillips