City showed great character to earn a 2-2 draw against Swansea City in the South Wales derby at Llandarcy Academy of Sport on Sunday afternoon.
Stacey John-Davis twice gave the hosts the lead, but Danielle Broadhurst and Phoebie Poole hit the net to ensure the Bluebirds would take a deserved point and remain unbeaten in 2022/23.
A 97th-minute equaliser from @Phoebie_Poole to keep @CardiffCityFCW’s unbeaten record intact 😮#GeneroAdranPremier pic.twitter.com/KOZdtXoKZh
— Genero Adran Leagues (@AdranLeagues) February 26, 2023
Head coach Iain Darbyshire made three changes to the side that faced Cardiff Metropolitan University last time out, with Megan Bowen, Manon Pearce and Poole coming into the starting XI.
The Bluebirds started brightly, as Pearce drove forward and had an effort from the edge of the box, which flew just wide. City’s Player of the Match in the win over Cardiff Metropolitan University last week was Danielle Green and the wing-back posed a threat yet again, driving forward and winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Ffion Price struck over the woodwork.
City looked to press high up the pitch and it almost paid dividends, as Poole won the ball back in a threatening area, before firing a great effort just over the bar. Green continued to find joy on the left, as she cut inside and fired a powerful strike at goal, forcing goalkeeper Chelsea Herbert into a save. Despite City’s first-half chances, the Swans took the lead in the 43rd minute through John-Davis, who headed home from Chloe Chivers’ cross, sending the hosts into the break with a 1-0 lead.
City came out of the blocks quickly in the second period and were rewarded for doing so, equalising in the 50th minute. Some great work from Poole allowed Price to deliver into the area, where Broadhurst was on-hand to fire home for her seventh league goal of the season.
Darbyshire’s side applied pressure on the hosts after levelling the score, with Green’s delivery from the left almost finding its way into the net. In another chance, substitute Zoe Atkins went close to making an instant impact, as she cut inside and had an effort saved by Herbert.
The Bluebirds continued to push forward in search of a second goal, creating a great opportunity from a set-piece. Seren Watkins’ dangerous delivery dropped to Poole in the box, who fired just over the bar. In the 76th minute, the Swans regained the lead, as an adjudged handball in the area allowed John-Davis to convert from the penalty spot.
City immediately put the hosts under pressure, as Poole found Broadhurst in space, who fired just over. In another chance, Price’s free-kick was headed out to Poole on the edge of the area, who struck wide of the post. The Bluebirds were rewarded for their brilliant character, finding an equaliser in the 97th minute. A fantastic pass from Hannah Power set Poole free, who fired into the bottom corner to rescue City a well earned point.
The Bluebirds face The New Saints at Park Hall in their next fixture on Sunday, 5 February, 2pm KO.
ADRAN PREMIER FINAL SCORE: SWANSEA CITY 2-2 CARDIFF CITY
Swansea City: Herbert, Jenkins, Lake, Jenkins, Chivers (Horgan 81’), Hosford © (Legall 73’), John-Davis, Finch, Saunders (Tiley 90’), Williams, Cullen. Subs not used: Rees, Matthews.
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Price, Power, S Walsh, Bowen, Green, Watkins, Pearce (Atkins 61’), Broadhurst (C Walsh 84’), Oakley, Poole. Subs not used: Hawkins, Owen, Major.
After the final whistle, head coach Darbyshire expressed his pride following a fantastic fightback.
“We’re over the moon overall,” Iain began. “I think it was definitely deserved. We dominated large parts of the game, but things didn’t quite go our way. We dug deep and have had a strong team spirit all year. We knew that we were going to have to fight for everything, even up until the 97th minute and we got our reward. The whole squad are buzzing.
“Football is an incredible game. You live it, you breath it and sometimes, you lose yourself in the moment. The players deserve it, they work so hard in every training session, they deserve moments like this and we still have our seven point cushion, which we’ll take into the next game.”
After her dramatic equaliser, Poole added: “What a good day to be a Bluebird! We worked really hard towards the end of that game and we fully deserved to draw. I thought we were very dominant. Our belief and our confidence is through the roof and we take that into every game. We take one game at a time, work as hard as we can and the fact that we haven’t lost this season shows that it’s paying off.”