UWIC midfielder Lauren Welsh was on target with a second half match-winning goal for the Cyncoed Campus students to secure a South Wales Women's League Cup quarter-final victory against the Swans , reports Robert Clement.
It was the second time in ten months for the two leading Division One sides to meet in the competition, with them having opposed each other in last year's final at Maesteg Park which Swansea lost 2-0.
An early attacking option was created by Swansea after only nine minutes with them gaining a corner after Vanessa Romero Folch had seen a low shot on target deflected behind by Lauren Stringer.
Sarah Adams then flighted the resulting flag kick into the congested goalmouth, only for Kayleigh Hateley to apply a timely headed clearance.
UWIC soon responded and after Laura Charalambous managed to pick out Holly Broad, the striker sent a shot on target which Gemma Border comfortably collected.
Midway into the half, Swansea twice engineered positive attacking options with firstly Romero Folch sending a dipping shot which was directed straight into the hands of Phillipa Gent.
Two minutes later, Adams who had worked a neat passing opening with Neath College student Stephanie Turner, successfully picked out the available Rachel Rowe but she was just off target with a shot flying over the top.
In the evenly balanced Cup encounter, UWIC gained a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the penalty area with Rowe having halted the progress of Charalambous, five minutes prior to the interval.
It was then left to Hateley to power the twenty yard delivery goalbound, but it was Border who proved to be alert and agile reacting well by pushing the ball around the post.
Early into the second half UWIC gradually increased the attacking tempo, and twice in a five minute period, Port Talbot teenager Tija Richardson was called upon to produce timely tackles to halt attacking threats from Broad and frontrunner Naomi Clipson.
Unfortunately, the students made the breakthrough following a Stringer corner just after the hour mark, with Welsh allowed time and space to apply a headed finish from close range.
It was a cruel setback for Ian Owens ladies, but the possibility of cancelling out the lead almost arrived during the 73rd minute only for substitute Jodie Passmore being unable to apply the vital finish, shooting wide from eight yards with only Gent to confront.
Swansea continued to make a stirring fight back and both Romero Folch and Laura-May Walkley struggled to produce the crucial leveller.
With only five minutes remaining, there was a twenty-five drive from skipper Natalie Ashford, but the possibility of taking the tie into extra time failed to arrive with the ball grazing the outside edge of the crossbar.
"Regrettably, there are not many positive moments that I can take from the game," said disappointed Swansea City Ladies team manager Ian Owen.
"There appeared to be a real lack of effort in some areas, but on the plus side despite being beaten from the second half goal, Gemma Border did exceptionally well, making a first class save just before the interval."
Owen added: "Tija Richardson then produced a series of well timed challenges during the second half, and that was possibly the major highlight of the game, unfortunately as a unit though we really failed to rise to the occasion".
"We now have another meeting with UWIC in ten days time with a place in the FAW Women's Cup Final at stake."
"Important matches are now arriving at a fast and furious pace, I'm not over worried by the game or the opponents, if we do what were capable of doing, I'll be more than pleased".
Swans: Gemma Border, Alicia Powe, Tija Richardson, Lisa Anderson (Kelly Melville, 90'), Natalie Ashford (C), Sarah Adams (Jodie Passmore, 48'), Vanessa Romero Folch, Laura Davies, Rachel Rowe, Stephanie Turner (Ria Hughes, 77'), Laura-May Walkley.Substitutes
Not Used: Ella Walsh, Rhiannon Summerfield.
Referee: Wayne Tregonning (Merthyr Tydfil)
