Final let-down for city girls

SWANSEA Ladies ended the season with their third straight defeat and their first in the league going down 3-2 to cup winners Exeter Rangers.

Swansea took the lead on 15 minutes when Dawn Knuszka met Paula Allen's cross with a diving header and when Knuszka scored a second six minutes later fol- lowing poor goalkeeping at the near post, Swances looked odds-on to gain revenge for their cup final defeat three weeks ago.

Exeter had other idea, however, and on 25 minutes Becky Batten reduced the arrears following a rare breakaway. Emma Jason should have increased Swansea's lead before half time when put clean through on goal, but her attempt dropped over the cross-bar.

The second half was all Swansea until the last 15 minutes, but they failed to find that killer third goal with simple chances passed up by both Jason and Knuszka.

Swansea were made to pay dearly by Exeter who equalised on 75 minutes when in another breakaway Julie Lowe intervened only to see Wendy Wood slice her clearance and for Tracey Knuszka's clearance to cannon into the net off Batten. Exeter now sensed victory and nine minutes from time another poor clearance by Wood fell straight to Sarah Barker who gratefully accepted the scoring opportunity.

Swansea now look forward to life in division one next season knowing that there is a lot of work to be done.