Cardiff Metropolitan 0-3 Carmarthen Town: Dream start for O’Leary as Archers’ winless run extends to seven games
Carmarthen Town secured their first Cymru Premier win of the season, as new manager Kristian O’Leary oversaw a 3-0 victory against struggling Cardiff Metropolitan.
Despite controlling much of the first-half, the Archers were unable to take their chances and were punished by Luke Bowen and Declan Carroll, who struck in quick succession just before half-time.
Elliot Scotcher finished off a wonderful counter-attacking move to make it three in the second-half, ensuring that Met’s winless run extended to seven league games.
The win sees the Old Gold move to within three points of safety, after Airbus UK Broughton lost to Bala Town on Friday evening. The Students remain in the top six, but will need to turn their form around sooner rather than later.
Old Gold forward Luke Bowen was involved early on, showing good pace after being played through and firing just over the crossbar to signal his threat.
The Archers came close when Jordam Lam, the winger, cut back inside and saw his curling effort come back off the bar, with the Carmarthen defence alive to prevent any further danger from the rebound.
The hosts could not believe their luck when they hit the crossbar for a second time is many minutes.
Former Old Gold midfielder Mael Davies – playing centre-forward in the absence of Will Evans – did well to wrestle his way into the area, before squaring a pass to Charlie Corsby, whose left-footed shot was tipped onto the bar by stopper Lee Idzi.
Christian Edwards’ side continued to pile the pressure on, with Davies the latest to have an attempt on goal, which was deflected behind for a corner.
The Students were punished for failing to take their chances when Liam Thomas flicked the ball on to Bowen, and the striker made no mistake from five yards out, curling into the right corner to put the Old Gold ahead.
If Met were shocked by the visitors’ first goal, they would have been in a state of disbelief when Declan Carroll ran unopposed to the edge of the area and placed his shot perfectly into the same area of the goal to put O’Leary and his side in dreamland.
Met almost pulled a goal back seven minutes into the second-half, when Lam’s ball into the area found substitute Dion Phillips, whose header was pushed wide by Idzi.
The hosts suffered a setback when captain Dylan Rees, a regular starter, was forced off after failing to recover from an earlier knock.
Lam was also in the wars, limping for some time after coming off second best in a challenge, but was able to play on forced Dave Vincent into a cynical challenge which saw the centre-back go into the book.
Met were pushing hard, but gave the ball away and presented Carmarthen with a chance to counter-attack. A well-timed run from Thomas saw him break down the left side, before squaring to find Elliot Scotcher, who fired into the top right corner to score on his return to Cyncoed Campus.
Substitute Jay Woodford, who came on for goalscorer Bowen, sent a powerful shot on goal which went behind for a corner. From the set-piece, centre-back Lee Surman headed narrowly wide.
Thomas, who had an impressive afternoon up front for the Old Gold, broke forward on another counter-attack and fired just wide.
The Archers will look to make amends when they host Cefn Druids next Saturday, while Carmarthen are next in action in two weeks time when they entertain Bala Town at Richmond Park.
Cardiff Metropolitan: Will Fuller, Dylan Rees (Rhydian Morgan 60′), Emlyn Lewis, Mael Davies, Eliot Evans, Chris Baker, Charlie Corsby (Dion Phillips 46′), Jordan Lam, Joel Edwards, Joe Evans, Guto Williams.
Substitutes: Alex Lang, Kyle McCarthy, Owen Taylor, Rhydian Morgan, Dion Phillips, Liam Warman.
Carmarthen Town: Lee Idzi, Jordan Knott, Dave Vincent, Lee Surman (C), Declan Carroll, Greg Walters (Jay Woodford 82′), Luke Bowen (Mabon Evans 76′), Chris Jones, Jordan Vickers, Elliot Scotcher, Liam Thomas.
Substitutes: Gwion Howell, Jay Woodford, Craig Hanford, Lewis Rocke, Mabon Evans, Ayrton Morgan.
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(Featured Image: Tomos Lewis)
