Cardiff Metropolitan missed out on a place in the Cymru Premier top six despite a narrow 1-0 win over Caernarfon Town at Cyncoed Campus.
Goals from Jordan Lam and Eliot Evans wasn’t enough as the Met had to settle for a place in the bottom six, despite bettering last season’s Phase One tally.
Caernarfon Town were reduced to ten men on the hour mark after Gruffydd John’s red card.
Christian Edwards’ men deserved their victory against the Cofis, having had a handful of chances with Lam and Eliot Evans taking them.
The hosts began on the front foot as Lam drew a save out of Alex Ramsay. Mael
Mael Davies was trying to stamp his authority onto the fixture as he made a number of runs at the Cofis defence.
His biggest moment was a run-in on goal in which Ramsay had to slight at his feet to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Met in the knowledge of knowing a victory was the minimum required, seized the initiative and took the lead.
Dylan Rees’ superb cross was met by a bullet header of Jordan Lam who had strayed from his marker.
In search of an equaliser, Caernarfon’s best chance was a free-kick from Nathan Craig. The Cofis captain drove it low at Fuller who fumbled and Danny Brookwell was unable to turn it in the net.
Met’s chances of victory were increased when Gruffydd John was red-carded by the referee after hacking down Will Evans who was the last man.
With a man advantage and a set piece to take, Eliot Evans had two opportunities to further Met’s lead. Firstly lacing a shot at Ramsay before having a similar shot, which the Cofis keeper could hold on the second attempt.
Despite the red card, Caernarfon almost drew level as Darren Thomas’ header was cleared off the line by Charlie Corsby.
Met put the pressure on the Canaries in the final ten minutes as they hoped for an Airbus goal.
Will Evans dispossessed the returning Crowther but his sweeping shot was palmed away by Ramsay.
He then had another opportunity saved by Ramsay as he kept the score to one.
Eliot Evans chested the ball down after Lam’s cross wasn’t cleared and hit a half volley past Ramsay in stoppage time.
Despite winning, Met settled for a place in the bottom six but will be buoyed by two straight victories against two top six sides.
Cardiff Metropolitan: Will Fuller, Dylan Rees, Bradley Woolridge, Emlyn Lewis, Mael Davies, Eliot Evans, Chris Baker (Kyle McCarthy 77), Will Evans, Charlie Corsby, Jordan Lam, Joe Evans (Joel Edwards 67)
Goals: Jordan Lam 29, Eliot Evans 90′
Yellow Cards: Joe Evans 39, Jordan Lam 61’
Caernarfon Town: Alex Ramsay, Joe Williams, Nathan Craig (Jamie Crowther 63), Gareth Evans, Jamie Breese (Sam Jones 76), Darren Thomas, Daniel Brookwell (Sion Bradley 57), Noah Edwards, Gruffydd John, Ben Clark, Ryan Williams.
Yellow Cards: Danny Brookwell 39, Gareth Evans 77,
Red Cards: Gruffydd John 60
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(Featured Image: Matthew Lofthouse)
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