Swansea City Ladies - 0

Abergavenny Women - 1

AS opening day fixtures go they don’t get much tougher than an away trip to 2017 champions and current Welsh cup holders Swansea City Ladies.

However, after a summer of hard work in pre-season and a couple of new recruits in the fold, Aber were relishing the challenge.

Manager Richie Jeremiah had set out a game plan knowing that Swansea were likely to dominate possession. Yet with attacking options throughout the team, the visitors knew that they’d get their chances too. Laura Davies went close after picking the ball up on halfway and riding not one but two challenges to see her shot go agonisingly wide.

Though Swansea huffed and puffed they created very little in the way of good chances Abergavenny keeper Charlotte Hastings made one good save to keep it 0-0 at the break.

The Swans came out flying in the second-half. They moved the ball quicker, struck the bar and had numerous corners but Abergavenny put their bodies on the line and defended superbly.

Record goal scorer Lyndsey Davies spurned a golden opportunity with 15 minutes remaining as she rounded the keeper but took a little too long sorting her feet out and the chance was gone.

Having soaked up all the pressure, Abergavenny won their first corner of the match five minutes from time. The mercurial right foot of Kate Jeremiah put in a precision cross for Laura Davies.

Davies headed it to the feet of Lauren Boyd who poked a shot home and won the game.

Richie Jeremiah was full of praise for his troops, "They stuck to the game plan and nicked it late on. The squad is as tight as it’s ever been and we look forward to an exciting season ahead.”