Genero Adran Premier – Wrexham share points in six-goal thriller

GENERO ADRAN PREMIER

Wrexham 3 (Pritchard 23, Hughes 56, Keryakoplis 89)
Swansea City 3 (Pinder 75, Chivers 84, Hosford 90+4)

Wrexham’s first game on their return to the Genero Adran Premier will certainly never be forgotten.

The match at The Rock had everything – six goals, a red card, some slipshod defending, passion in abundance and endless feisty challenges.

What it did not have was a winner and that was about right – a draw was a fair result.

Six-time league champions Swansea started the stronger and almost took a second-minute lead, impressive defender Louisha Doran heading clear from near the goal-line after Stacey John-Davis met a deep Chloe Chivers cross.

Wrexham settled and Amber Lightfoot and Tonicha Dickens both had efforts on target which in fairness did not overly test visiting keeper Claire Skinner.

John-Davis nearly broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when she produced some fantastic juggling in the box before volleying against the bar.

Perhaps a little against the run of play, Wrexham took a 23rd minute lead.

City gave the ball away carelessly and Rosie Hughes found Mari Gibbard, who switched feet sharply and fed a lovely pass to Rebecca Pritchard, and she applied a neat finish into the left-hand corner.

If that was a blow to Swansea, the one they suffered on 34 minutes was even bigger.

Star striker John-Davis painfully collided with an advertising hoarding behind the goal and needed lengthy treatment before leaving the field.

Still, the visitors continued to press, Wrexham keeper Delyth Morgan twice looking uneasy pushing shots from Katy Hosford and Chivers behind for corners, while sub Robyn Pinder made a poor connection from a great Jessica Williams cross.

Half time: Wrexham 1-0

A minute into the second half and a free kick from Chivers hit the bar.

Wrexham upped their game and went two-up in the 55th minute.

Lily Jones won the ball in midfield, burst forward and played a smart pass into Hughes, who made no mistake from close range with a left-foot finish.

The somewhat manic celebrations perhaps came a little too early from the home side – there was still a long way to go.

Wrexham were now on top. Hughes crossed and Pritchard netted, but was adjudged offside.

A long clearance then bounced nicely for Hughes, but her lob was off target.

Doran headed over the bar when an Alicia Powe header looked like a goal all the way and it was beginning to appear like it was Wrexham’s day.

However, in the 75th minute, Morgan spilled a standard Lake cross from the left and Pinder, while not making the firmest of contact with the loose ball, managed to find the net.

Morgan suddenly went down injured and was replaced by Charlotte Bolland.

Swansea were revived and on 84 minutes a deep cross from the right was nodded out by home captain Keren Allen only as far as Chivers, who volleyed in a cracker.

At this point, the smart money would have been on a Swans win, but there were more twists to come.

In the 88th minute, Pritchard found Hughes, who turned cleverly and passed to substitute Hannah Keryakoplis, who side-footed past Skinner for 3-2.

When Lake was red-carded for kicking out at Pritchard while on the ground in the 90th minute, it looked like the final nail in Swansea’s coffin.

But the announcement of 11 added minutes – more than justified due to the endless stoppages – meant the hosts could not relax.

And in the 93rd minute it was all-square again, Hosford’s deflected effort spooning in over a stranded Bolland.

It was Bolland who saved the day for Wrexham in the closing seconds, as she smothered at the feet of Pinder.

What a game!

TEAMS

Wrexham
Delyth Morgan (Charlotte Bolland 77), Phoebe Davies, Erin Lovett, Louisha Doran, Rebecca Pritchard, Rosie Hughes, Tonicha Dickens, Amber Lightfoot (Carra Jones 65), Mari Gibbard (Hannah Keryakoplis 72), Lili Jones, Keren Allen.

Swansea City
Claire Skinner, Alicia Powe, Lucy Finch (Stephanie Turner 70), Ellie Lake, Nieve Jenkins (Samantha Wynne 60), Chloe Bull, Chloe Chivers, Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davis (Robyn Pinder 34), Sophie Hancocks (Monet Legall 70), Jessica Williams.