City Women made it back-to-back wins against Swansea City with another 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
Lily Billingham and Laura Curnock struck for the Bluebirds, who pick up an important three points in the Adran Premier title race.
Head Coach Iain Darbyshire elected to make three changes to the side that beat the Swans last weekend, with Lisa Owen, Laura Curnock and Lily Billingham coming into the starting XI.
It was the visitors who recorded the first chances of the game, with Ceryn Chamberlain called into action to first deny Chloe Chivers from a long-ranged effort, and another made another stop to keep Tate Trivett’s effort at the near post.
But the Bluebirds broke the deadlock just before the half hour mark, after Fiona Barry found the run of Billingham through the middle, who took a touch and chipped the keeper from distance with an excellent finish.
Swansea grabbed an equaliser through Eilish Mitchell just five minutes later, however City retook the lead before the break. After Owen played a neat ball down the line to Mackenzie Olden, she skipped past Caitlin Williams and found Curncok in the area, who was able to direct the ball on target and into the net.
Olden was again involved in the action after the break and capitalised on a loose ball in the Swansea half, forcing Forkings into a save at the near post. While Chamberlain had to remain alert in her own goal to deny the visitors another leveller.
Substitute Ffion Price came close to doubling City’s lead late on, standing over a free-kick from 25 yards out which cannoned off the crossbar.
City showed their control in seeing out the win, earning three big points in the race for the Adran Premier trophy.
And next up for the Bluebirds is a trip to their title rivals Wrexham on Sunday 29th March, with a kick-off of 5:10pm.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 2-1 SWANSEA CITY
Cardiff City: Chamberlain, Owen, Jenkins, Bowen, Perrott (S. Evans 45’), Power ©, Long, (Price 63’) Billingham, Barry, Olden (Thomas 82), Curnock (Lloyd 63’). Subs Not Used: Saunders, Lowe, Nicholls.
Swansea City: Forkings, Finch, Murray (Legall 86’), Miller (Deacon 55’), Chivers, John, Lake, Mitchell (Wynne 45’), Trivett, C. Williams (Turner 86’), J. Williams. Subs Not Used: Rayner, Davies, Richards.
MATCH REACTION | IAIN DARBYSHIRE
“It was a very hard-fought win.” Iain began. “Both teams were fully committed. I thought the game lacked a bit of quality from both sides. It was more of a physical battle but thankfully, we managed to edge it with a couple of moments where we were a little bit more aggressive. But I’m delighted with the three points.
“Lily’s goal is one of the best goals you'll see. It’s such a good finish and to do that, running full speed and have the quality, just to dink it over the goalkeeper. I thought was fantastic, and she deserves that for all of her hard work.
“And the second goal, it’s what Laura does. She puts herself in the right positions, and it’s a bit of quality from Mackenzie in the build-up. It's one of them where, you put yourself in the right positions more often than not, and you're going to get goals.
“But I’m thankful for every player today for the effort they put in, I thought they gave everything. They gave all their energy, and it puts us in a good position for next week.”