Cardiff Metropolitan 2-1 Newtown: Quick-fire Eliot Evans brace ensures victory for Archers over Robins

Cardiff Metropolitan picked up their first back-to-back win of the season with a dramatic 2-1 win over Newtown.

An Eliot Evans brace either side of a Jack Kelly header mean Christian Edwards’ side collected all three points as they hope to find their way into the top-six.

Newtown continued their poor away record as they remain winless on the road with just two points picked up on their travels all season.

The victory meant that the Archers have defeated Newtown in each of their home matches since their promotion in 2016.

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Met started on the front foot as in-form striker Ollie Hulbert forced a one-one-one save out of Dave Jones before Charlie Corsby was fouled on the edge of the box, which forced him off.

From the resulting free-kick, Eliot Evans took the lead as his set-piece got the better of the goalkeeper.

Almost immediately, Newtown equalised when Jack Kelly met a Craig Williams corner and headed home.

The early drama didn’t end there as Met took the lead through Evans again. From similar distance to his first, he connected sweetly with a volley as the ball flew into the bottom left corner.

Intensities remained high as both sides continued having chances as the game became increasingly end-to-end.

Liam Warman produced magic on the right-hand side before crossing into Evans who was denied of his hat-trick by a fantastic save.

Evans had yet another attempt just a few minutes later as he found space on the edge of the box before firing straight at the goalkeeper with his left foot.

The visitors were next to come close as a well-worked move saw Nick Rushton get space on the right before firing a dangerous cross into the six-yard-box that. If not for Alex Lang, Rhydian Morgan would have put it into his own net.

Kyle McCarthy struck wide with an ambitious effort from distance towards the end of the first-half.

Newtown came close to equalising again early in the second half when Kelly found Tyrone Ofori free in the box. The latter was denied by an exceptional save by Lang.

The Robins were hopeful of taking advantage of Met’s cagey start to the second half but the hosts’ defence remained well-structured.

The Archers found joy from utilising Warman’s pace on the break. The attacker came close to increasing the advantage, but his strike was wide of the near post.

Ofori came close again just after the hour mark when his shot from the edge of the area flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Met had their own opportunity to further their lead as Rhydian Morgan struck a volley from the right-hand side which fell kindly into Jones’ chest.

Warman was next to come close as his shot from the left – destined for the top-right corner – was blocked by Jack Kelly.

The away side came close again when Sean McAlister’s shot inside the box was blocked before a series of other shots being blocked. Met, unable to clear their lines, were awarded a free-kick in their own six-yard-box.

Kieran Mills-Evans nearly equalised right at the death as his last touch of the game header went narrowly wide of the post.

Cardiff Met: Alex Lang (Will Fuller, 82), Dylan Rees, Kyle McCarthy, Bradley Woolridge, Emlyn Lewis, Eliot Evans, Charlie Corsby (Jac Davies, 4) (Harry Owen, 70), Ollie Hulbert, Rhydian Morgan, Liam Warman, Liam Black.

Goals: Eliot Evans, 3, 10′

Yellow Cards: Emlyn Lewis 66, Liam Black 68, Ollie Hulbert 77, Harry Owen 89′

Newtown: Dave Jones, Jack Kelly, Sean McAllister (Matty Williams, 78), Kieran Mills-Evans, Neil Mitchell, Nick Rushton, Jordan Evans, Tom Davies (James Davies, 73), Craig Williams, Tyrone Ofori (Jamie Breese, 78), and Ryan Edwards.

Goals: Jack Kelly 6′

Yellow Cards: Sean McAllister 28, Dave Jones 62, Craig Williams 68, Neil Mitchell 90+3

Recap the action from Cyncoed Campus by reading through our live blog:

(Featured Image: Carl Robertson)