By Ioan Saunders
USW women’s 1sts endured frustration in a narrow defeat to local rivals Cardiff in a hard-fought encounter at the Sport Park.
Cardiff began the game strongly, maintaining possession and testing the USW defence.
The visitors’ first chance fell to Lucy Dalton, but her fantastic solo run was thwarted.
Cardiff continued their pressure and in the 15th minute Dalton broke the deadlock with a fantastic long range effort finding its way into the top corner of the USW net.
Cardiff received back-to-back penalty corners in the 27th minute following fowls from Ella Morgan for kick-ball offences in her efforts to prevent Cardiff from doubling their lead.
Dalton almost doubled her tally in the 31st minute with another dazzling run into the USW box and Cardiff’s Izzy Steele also went close from five yards out.
USW began the second half positively with a lot of fantastic attacking play on the counter, only to find clear-cut opportunities hard to come by.
The hosts were awarded a penalty-corner in the 38th minute following a kick-ball offence by Cardiff defender Ella Smith after a great effort at goal by Carys Shaw, but USW were unable to convert the opportunity.
USW continued to grow into the game in the second half with chances falling on the counter-attack but the equaliser proved elusive.
USW came agonisingly close to a late equaliser in the 69th minute with Shaw seeing her effort cleared off the line by the Cardiff defence.
Molly Iley doubled Cardiff’s lead late on from close range to seal all three points for the team in white. It was harsh on USW, who had been on top for the majority of the second half.