Wrexham AFC lost 3-2 at Llandarcy Academy of Sport against Swansea City, as Carra Jones’ injury-time goal couldn’t quite salvage a point for Wrexham.
Steph Turner opened the scoring for Swansea in the 9th minute, before Amber Lightfoot equalised for Wrexham a minute later.
Despite that, Katy Hosford scored goals either side of the half to give Swansea the advantage, before Carra Jones fired into the top corner in added-time.
Up next for the Red Dragons is a home match against reigning champions, Cardiff City, at the Rock on Sunday, March 17.
Rosie Hughes got proceedings underway at Llandarcy, but it was Swansea who quickly eased into the flow of things in South Wales.
Soon enough, Chris Church’s side took advantage of their start to the match, as they broke the deadlock after just nine minutes.
Katie Hosford found Steph Turner with a well-placed delivery in the ninth minute, and despite the best efforts of Del Morgan, Turner headed home to give the Swans an early lead.
However, the Red Dragons were full of spirit and managed to find an instant response against the six-time league champions, as they drove forwards and the ball eventually found Amber Lightfoot.
Wrexham’s number 11 showed great composure to calmly finish into the bottom-left corner to get her account up and running in Phase Two of the Genero Adran Premier.
From here, the game really came into life.
Morgan made a number of crucial saves to deny the hosts, the best of the bunch potentially coming after 19 minutes as Morgan got down low to produce an excellent save and deny the ever-dangerous Stacey John-Davis.
Both teams battled away for the lead, but eventually it was Swansea who got the all-important goal. There were appeals made in the build-up for a foul on Captain Keren Allen, but the referee waved away those claims.
Hosford then drove towards goal and fired into the top-left corner just five minutes from the interval, giving the hosts a slender lead going into the break.
Swansea were handed a blow in the 54th minute when John-Davis was forced off with an injury to her shoulder, and subsequently replaced by Monet Legall.
They responded to the loss though, and extended their advantage after 65 minutes through Hosford, as Ellie Lake found the forward with a superb cross which Hosford headed home.
The Red Dragons fought valiantly, and they eventually halved the deficit in injury time, as Carra Jones fired straight into the top corner to give Wrexham a glimmer of hope.
Time ran out despite the battling efforts of Dale’s side, but it wasn’t to be as they eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat against a strong Swansea City side in Llandarcy.
Wrexham AFC: Morgan, Pritchard (Suckley 76’), Allen (C), Fuller (Lovett 46’), Davies, L. Jones, Gibbard, Lightfoot, Cairns (Small 76’), C.Jones, Hughes (Mackenzie 87’).
Subs not used: Bolland.
