Cardiff ……………………………….2
Swansea ……………………………..0
The ladies’ football 1st XI came through a tough Swansea test, in the end comfortably winning by two goals to nil to reclaim the Welsh Varsity bragging rights after their defeat in 2013.
Both sides struggled to find any rhythm early on, with the first half a stop-start affair.  However, it was a more physical Swansea side who eventually settled first in possession and looked the more threatening, particularly from set-pieces.
With half time approaching and against the run of play, Cardiff’s Abi Smyth had the first clear-cut chance, firing straight at the goalkeeper from close range. From here on, the pendulum continued to swing in favour of the home side.
Spurred on by a motivational half-time team talk from coach Mark Brown, it was an increasingly confident Cardiff who opened the scoring. A brilliant outswinging cross from captain Laura Brathwaite was met by a powerfully driven header from Frances Dalton, which deflected into the back of the net.
With the home side creating more and more clear-cut chances, it looked as though the match would only go one way. It was not long before a neat through-ball from midfielder Jess Ham was latched onto by the impressive Smyth, who calmly slotted home to double Cardiff’s lead.
Following the goal, a controlling Cardiff looked to close the game out, with substitutes Izzy Barlow and club captain Ellie Davies providing not only fresh legs, but also an immediate impact.
As the play began to break up more freely in the latter stages, a spirited Swansea kept on searching for a way back into the match.
It may well have been a different last ten minutes for Cardiff if Swansea had not squandered a chance from a controversial late penalty.
Cardiff eventually ran out worthy winners. A proud Brown confessed: “It was a bit disappointing not to get promotion, but I will take a Varsity win over promotion. To win and keep a clean sheet against a decent Swansea team – we’re all over the moon.”
Captain Brathwaite echoed Brown’s delight: “We have been working on a lot of new stuff over the course the season and I feel like today it all came together for us.
“It was a well deserved result, with everyone putting in 110 per cent.”
In this season’s BUCS Western Conference 2B Division, Cardiff could only muster a third-placed finish, 10 points behind promoted UWE and only three points above their arch rivals Swansea, who finished fifth out of six teams.
The result means that Brathwaite’s side concluded a frustrating campaign on a positive note.
Arthur Russell
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