Edwards praises Met for best football of season yet in Cup win over Old Gold

Christian Edwards praised his team as they reached the quarter finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup with what he calls as “some of the best” football they have played all season.

Edwards, who guided Cardiff Met to their second successive quarter finals hopes that their form can continue in the league with Sunday’s opponents TNS, who had beaten the Met 1-0 in last year’s final.

“Yeah, very pleased. I said before the game that we needed to use the victory as a springboard towards Sunday and I thought the first half was outstanding,” he said “the pace of the game really brought Carmarthen down.”

Luke Bowen had opened the scoring or Carmarthen Town in the ninth minute Edwards’s side came from behind to win the game 3-1 with goals from Rhys Thomas, Chris Baker and Tim Parker.

I know they scored first, we were sloppy in stepping out but the dictate in our play by us was brilliant, that’s some of the best that we’ve played all season.

“I don’t think anybody in Carmarthenshire can have any problems with the result. I thought the boys were outstanding.”

“I’m pleased for (Adam Roscrow), I’m pleased for Rhydian Morgan, I’m pleased for Tim Parker, I’m pleased for Rhys Thomas, all the boys who have had limited time this year and the latter two names I have mentioned have got two goals which is really important.” ‘

After losing Adam Roscorw and Rhydian Morgan to injury earlier on in the season, Edwards was delighted to see both players back in action on Tuesday night, while captain Brad Woolridge is back in training after missing eight months of action.

“Adam’s had half an hour. It’s his first half an hour since August and Rhydian’s played ninety minutes which is really really important for us and we go again (Wednesday) in a house friendly for Bradley Woolridge and a few others to get game time.”

“It’s about building this fantastic squad of players back up again so that we can push on in the Welsh Premier League.”

The Met head coach feels that side can reach the heights of last season and move themselves within a chance of catching up with last year’s champions who they play on Sunday with the game being shown live on Sgorio on S4C at 12:45.

“It is always important, TNS are the benchmark for every team. Last season I think in the five games we played against them, we had three maybe four draws. We showed that we can more than match them.”

“We 100% respect for what they do and their DNA of passing the ball and movement is similar to ourselves and they do it with that full-time ability and that full-time application.”

“I’d love to get to that but I still think there’s areas in our game that we can cause them problems so we are looking forward to Sunday.” 

After losing to Carmarthen Town 2-0 in their last game against them in early September, the one-time capped Welsh International was keen to learn from their past mistakes.

“Yeah, it is a quick turnaround from Saturday to Tuesday, we only had one session and that was Monday night and we worked on a few things having played Carmarthen previously.”

“Again, we dominated that game but we were hit with two sucker punches and the performance was there, the chances were there which we had to convert and (Tuesday night) we converted.”

With the draw not taking place until next week after the completion of the Northern fixtures Cardiff Met’s Edwards is taking nothing for granted and knows that a lot can happen between now and January.

“I think you have to be respectful of the rest of the teams that are left in the competition, a very good Cambrian team who put Aberystwyth to the sword (Tuesday night), Haverfordwest have won again, Newtown have won again.”

“So, it’s going to be a very difficult path to that final and I do believe we have the ability with the squad coming back.”

“We’ve got BUCS season which starts now which gives the players extra game time, extra fitness and to make sure that we are on that charge and whether it’s the Cup Final.”

“I think if you ask myself and the group of the players we would rather be in the top six come January but if we have the same last year top six and a Cup Final then ever better for us.”

FEATURED IMAGE: Matthew Lofthouse