Swansea City Ladies suffered misery and agony losing their FAW Challenge Cup semi-final tie against UWIC at Port Talbot's GenQuip Stadium, writes Rob Clement.
With neither side capable of underlining their attacking authority during the 110 minutes, it was penalty spot kicks which decided the outcome.
It required nerves of steel with the scales tilting in UWIC's favour after Swansea only managed to score from three of their penalty spot kicks.
Bitter disappointment ran through the Swansea team camp, with them failing for the second successive season at the identical stage of the competition with them having lost 3-2 against Caerphilly Castle 12 months ago.
Having been edged out of the South Wales League Cup two weeks ago at UWIC following a Lauren Welsh goal, the Swansea starting line-up showed two changes, with Kelly Melville replacing Vanessa Romero Folch; meanwhile Lindsay Morgan returned to an attacking role in place of Laura Davies.
It took Swansea only four minutes to pose a threat, and they were very unlucky with Stephanie Turner sending a rising shot over the top following swift attacking option from Sarah Adams.
The Cardiff student's, who are the current British University Champions, then made a positive response and appeared to have made the breakthrough eight minutes later when Welsh netted from a Kayleigh Hateley corner, but referee Paul Fisher disallowed the goal following a foul in the six yard area.
Swansea began to grasp the initiative midway into the half, and when Natalie Ashford picked out Lisa Anderson, the attacking full back sent a twenty-yard effort just wide of the post.
With half time approaching, the Swans were provided with another scoring opportunity when Lauren Smith halted Laura-May Walkley's progress on the edge of the penalty area, but Walkley's well-timed free kick was cleared by Jo Parslow.
The attacking momentum was increased by Swansea following the turnaround, and on the hour mark Tija Richardson and Rachel Rowe worked a neat attacking option in the goalmouth, but Adams was unlucky with her two quick-fire strikes being intercepted by the stretched UWIC defence.
Midway into the half, Richardson advanced into the goalmouth unnoticed and was inches away from ending the stalemate, applying a powerful header which grazed the top edge of the crossbar following an Adams corner.
Swansea had an appeal for a penalty waved away by the Port Talbot match official four minutes later Lindsay Morgan appeared to be brought down by Jazmine Thomas.
Rowe continued to be prominent in her attacking role, and the breakthrough almost arrived eight minutes later when her goal attempt was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Phillipa Gent.
During the final minute of normal time, Anderson had a we'll timed shot punched away by Gent, and despite Adams gaining possession, she was just off target with her low struck shot.
Swansea's best chance of making the vital impact arrived five minutes into extra time, only for Richardson to be denied by the UWIC shot stopper as she attempted to apply a narrow angled shot.
In the nail biting penalty shoot-out Sarah Adams, Natalie Ashford and Jodie Passmore found the net for Swansea, but pressure continued to be put on the outcome, and it was left to Cyncoed campus team captain Lauren Smith to fire home the dramatic winner.
"We started off very well, with a few chances which on another day would have been put away," said Swansea City's Ladies Assistant manager John Hughes.
"But towards the end of the first 45 minutes we gradually allowed UWIC to come more into the picture.
"In the second half we appeared to take control of the game with numerous chances, but at the end of the day goals needed to be scored and they were just not forthcoming.
"On reflection we should have won the tie before it went into extra-time, and when it came to penalties it was just like a lottery. Our three were well struck, the other two attempts made easy for the UWIC keeper."
Swans: Gemma Border, Alicia Powe, Lisa Anderson, Tija Richardson, Natalie Ashford (C), Sarah Adams, Laura-May Walkley (Jodie Passmore, 83'), Kelly Melville, Lindsay Morgan, Rachel Rowe, Stephanie Turner (Laura Davies, 67').
Not Used: Ella Walsh, Ria Hughes.
Referee: Paul Fisher (Port Talbot)
