By Rob Clement @ Evans Bevan Playing Fields, Baglan
Sarah Adams supplied a quality quick-fire, second-half hat-trick as Swansea City Ladies registered their second successive win in the newly formed Welsh Women's Premier league against Manorbier.
This victory at Baglan provided Swansea with a three point lead at the top of the table, adding to their opening day success against the student's of UWIC.
It took the Swans only five minutes to create and profit from their first worthy effort of the game, with Vanessa Romero-Folch releasing Adams on a right sided attacking raid into Manorbier territory; her delivery into the goalmouth was seized upon by Jodie Passmore whose hooked shot flew past goalkeeper Leanne Jones.
The hosts remained in command, adding a second three minutes later, with Laura-May Walkley shaking off a challenge from Molly Furnival-Doran to dart into the penalty area and fire home from the narrowest of angles.
A third goal was forthcoming, with Swansea establishing a sensational three goal lead on 10 minutes with Barcelona-born Romero-Folch sending a 25-yard delivery just inside the base of the Manorbier post.
Additional pressure produced further rewards midway into the half, with Swansea maintaining quality finishing with Passmore scoring from four-yards, after an Adams shot had been blocked by the 'keeper.
Manorbier responded, finally fashioning their first attacking threat just before the half hour, only to be denied by Swans stopper Gemma Border, who advanced to smoother the ball at the feet of the onrushing Bethan Roberts.
It took Manorbier six minutes into the second-half to engineer their second likely looking threat, and it was Border who breathed a sigh of relief when a Nadia Lawrence drive rebounded off the upright.
Swansea continued to fire on all cylinders, and in a breathtaking 26-minute spell, Adams launched herself forward on three occasions and there was reward of a goal every time, with her constantly terrorising the visitors' defence with her pace and finishing to display her positive goalscoring skills.
During the final attack of the game, Adams was provider of the eighth and final goal when her corner kick was driven home from close range by Stephanie Turner.
"It's really pleasing with maximum points from our two games in this new league," beamed team manager Ian Owen.
"We are playing well with an abundance of goals coming from the strike force, and defensively we have not conceded a goal which is first class.
"Sarah Adams was certainly on form, being one of the star players with her three goal contribution. She's a new signing from Margam Youth Centre and has fitted in well with the way we play, and her speed and momentum, along with her finishing, is simply second to none.
"A lot of people have been asking if I had considered both UWIC and Manorbier to be sides of good quality? On the whole, the teams have been playing well against us, but I think that I have to complement the squad with them playing really well.
"We now have another home game in the league at the end of next month, against Newcastle Emlyn, and it would be fantastic to reach Christmas with nine points which would then set us up for the three remaining matches which start in February."
Owen added: "Alicia Powe was missing from the team with her having a fantastic opportunity at being selected for the Welsh senior squad for this week's games in the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan.
"It's certainly been quite a while since Swansea City had a player in the senior international side."
Swans: Gemma Border, Tija Richardson, Lisa Anderson, Laura-May Walkley (Ella Walsh, 56'), Natalie Ashford, Sarah Adams, Vanessa Romero Folch, Kelly Melville (C) (Holly Vowles, 62'), Laura Davies (Rhiannon Summerfield, 48'), Stephanie Turner, Jodie Passmore.
Not Used: Rachel Rowe.
Goals: Jodie Passmore (5' & 23'); Laura-May Walkley (8'); Vanessa Romero Folch (10'); Sarah Adams (59', 70' & 85'); Stephanie Turner (90')
Referee: Chloe Lloyd (Welshpool)
The Swans booked their place in round three of the FAW Welsh Women's Cup with a comfortable 7-0 home success against Caerphilly last weekend.
They have been rewarded with another home tie against Wrexham, who compete in the Northern section of the new Women's Welsh Premier League.
The tie will be played at Baglan on Sunday November 15, kick-off 2pm.
