Cardiff Metropolitan 1-0 Newtown: Will Evans punishes Robins in an edgy affair
Cardiff Metropolitan maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they inflicted a first defeat onto Newtown.
Will Evans scored the only goal in what was a nervy affair between the two, with not many chances.
Newtown remain winless at Cyncoed Campus since the Archers promotion in 2016.
Met are one of three clubs yet to taste defeat in the league and move up to second in the table, following Bala’s defeat.
Newtown started brightly and moved the ball well in the opening quarter.
The hosts were dealt with a blow as goalkeeper Will Fuller was injured following a collision with Nick Rushton, enforcing an early substitute, as Alex Lang replaced him.
Eliot Evans’ tested Dave Jones in the Newtown goal as he knuckleballed a free-kick over the wall but the Robins keeper dived down to save.
The visitors had their own effort at goal, as Nick Rushton’s curled effort whistled past Lang’s goal.
In a spell where the best chances came, Mael Davies who was impressing in a drab game curled a shot over the bar.
The Robins defence were forced into action just before the break as Will Evans’ placed shot destined for the corner was cleared off the line by Sam Barnes.
Met came out with all the attacking intent in the second half. Jordan Lam and Will Evans hit tame efforts into Jones’ hands.
At the hour mark, Met opened the scoring, punishing an error from Dave Jones. Emlyn Lewis smacked a volley at Jones who flapped it onto the crossbar and Will Evans bundled it over the line. Jones and the Robins defenders complained, but the goal stood.
Newtown had appealed for a penalty when Mwandwe went down following a barge from Joe Evans, but the referee waved away the protests.
The game moved into stoppage time but Met thwarted any Newtown pressure, grinding out for the victory.
Cardiff Metropolitan: Will Fuller, Dylan Rees, Kyle McCarthy (C) (Chris Baker 92), Emlyn Lewis, Male Davies, Eliot Evans (Dion Phillips 76), Will Evans, Charlie Corsby, Jordan Lam, Joel Edwards, Joe Evans
Newtown: David Jones, Sean McAllister (George Harry 85), Kieran Mills-Evans, Neil Mitchell (Ian Sheridan 70), Nicholas Rushton, Lifumpa Mwandwe, Craig Williams, Niall Flint (Sam Phillips 70), Alex Fletcher, Jack Kelly, Sam Barnes
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
