Key talking points as Flint leapfrog Cardiff Met in the table
Flint run foul of the referee
Flint kept referee Nick Pratt busy all afternoon causing the Deeside native to brandish nine yellow cards and one red as the home side threatened to boil over. Pratt is known as a referee to not take any impertinence from players or coaches as Tom Kemp, Alex Jones and Neil Gibson now know. All three were carded for their protestations to decisions, including captain Jones’ second of the afternoon.
Flint have suffered from mentality problems this season, none more so than when they concede as highlighted by their last two heavy defeats, so were growing in frustration before Connor Harwood’s opening goal settled their nerves. The Silkmen should be proud of how they channeled their ill temper into aggressive yet positive play, which aided in the closing down of any space the Met found themselves in. If they could swap cards for goals they’d be in a great position.
Cardiff Met continue to slide down the table
The Met’s loss to Flint extended the Students’ run of winless games to ten, their worst run of results since returning to the Cymru Premier in 2016. Perennial challengers for European spots in the last four years, they now find themselves sliding towards the bottom of the league. With the lowest amount of goals scored and third worst goal difference, there must have been a great sense of relief around the capital when relegation was scrapped for this year.
The Cardiff Met squad may not be the most talented or experienced squad in the Cymru Premier, but they are capable of giving anyone a game. Their slender 2-1 defeat to Barry in their last outing serves as proof of this. This matchup with Flint should have been viewed as the chance to finally gain a win. However this was a ponderous and often anonymous performance from the Students and showed little in the way of desire.
Scoring woes trouble Christian Edwards once again
The Students had opportunities to find the net, but it was a familiar story with the Met failing to score for the 10th time this season. Ollie Hubert, top scorer with 6 goals, returned to the fold after four games out, but could only make the bench. His 20 minute salvo could have given his side a glimmer of hope when with only five minutes to go his point blank header at the back post sailed wide.
Harry Owen was the Students brightest light of the game. But he could only latch on to half chances and long range efforts. Eliot Evans, Met top scorer for the last three seasons, could likewise not impact the game. One fierce volley well saved by Jon Rushton on the stroke of halftime was all he could muster. These are worrying signs for a side with only 18 goals this term.
Gibson holds off pressure from Manford for now
With Hollywood taking over down the road at Wrexham, Flint received their portion of celebrity glamour this week. Comedian Jason Manford has taken stewardship of Flint in Football Manager and is streaming his Cymru Premier adventures online. Unfortunately for Manford incumbent Neil Gibson has guided Flint out of the bottom two with victory over Cardiff Met.
Flint’s rugged style of play with a lot of long balls up to Josh Amis was not working in the first half hour and Gibson successfully instructed his side to focus more down the wings. Playing as a wingback Eddie Clarke’s contribution was key to Flint’s first goal. In the second half as Cardiff Met began to gain the upper hand in midfield Gibson switched to a midfield diamond and negated their pressure with the addition of Mark Cadwallader. It seems Manford will have to settle for a replica shirt for now.
