Cardiff Met 0-1 Connah’s Quay: Nomads go top after last-gasp Woolridge own-goal

A late own-goal from Cardiff Met’s Bradley Woolridge sent Connah’s Quay top of the Cymru Premier.

Met’s unbeaten run in the Cymru Premier came to an end whilst the Nomads preserved theirs to move a point above former leaders Barry Town United.

Woolridge’s goal separated a cagey affair between the two with minimal chances at both ends.

The Archers started the brighter of the two teams in the first ten minutes enjoying the majority of the possession. A crunching tackle from the Nomads Michael Bakare their only real contribution to the opening exchanges.

With Cardiff Met settling into a defensive shape the Nomads took control of proceedings. However, a quick counter-attack from the Archers would create the first chance of the afternoon. But Mael Davies could only scuff his shot straight at Lewis Brass in the Nomads net.

Neither team were having much success creating chances. A Bakare cross did fall at Michael Wilde’s feet on 19-minutes, his strike drawing a fantastic reaction save from Alex Lang.

The rest of the opening 45-minutes passed with very little entertainment. The Nomads Priestly Farquharson and James Owen were controlling the midfield but the Archers were proving difficult to breakdown. Callum Robertson put a volley well over Lang’s goal, it was the closest either side came.

The Nomads started the second half with a promising opportunity. Declan Poole’s cross from the left finding Wilde unmarked ten yards out, but his header was straight at Lang.

Another long period of stalemate would follow, the Nomads with the lions share of the possession and the Archers happy to stay tight at the back.

The Archers would, however, have the next chance. Joel Edwards free-kick from 25-yards only being kept out of the bottom left-hand corner of the Nomads net by the fingertips of Brass.

Andy Morrison’s men would take full control of the last 20-minutes. Wilde spurned a chance from 12-yards though after Jamie Insall’s good run.

In a game not filled with many challenging shots, the Nomads had the best of the game. A long throw from Farquharson on 79-minutes clearing everybody and fell beautifully for Poole. His low driven effort beat Lang but was to be cleared off the line by the Archers captain Bradley Woolridge.

With the game petering out both teams looked as if they would have to settle for a draw.

In the final minute of stoppage time, a harmless-looking cross from the Nomads’ Kris Owen would lead to the breakthrough. Bradley Woolridge’s attempted clearance awkwardly coming off his head and into his own goal, heartbreak for the Archers.

The victory saw the Nomads hit the top of the table as Barry Town could only muster a draw in Bala. Cardiff Met stay sixth despite suffering their first defeat of the season.

(Featured Image: NCM Media)