Barry Town United 0-1 Cardiff Metropolitan: Eliot Evans spot-kick secures late win at Jenner
CARDIFF, WALES - 09 OCTOBER 2021: Haverfordwest County's Kieran Lewis and Cardiff Met's Elliot Evans during the JD Cymru Premier league fixture between Cardiff Met University F.C & Haverfordwest County A.F.C, Cardiff Met Cyncoed Campus, October 9th, 2021, Cardiff, Wales (Pic By John Smith/FAW)
Cardiff Met edged Barry Town in a close contest at Jenner Park, thanks to a late penalty by Eliot Evans.
In a game full of half chances and wasted crosses, it wasn’t until the final few minutes that one of the teams finally broke the deadlock, with Eliot Evans converting a penalty after Daniel Warre was bought down by Curtis McDonald.
Barry certainly started the better of the two teams. Abbruzzese and Cummings found a lot of joy down the flanks, but their crosses couldn’t find any connection in the box. McLaggon was also a bright spark for the home side in the first half. Chopping and turning his way round the Met defence, but again, he could not produce any clear-cut chances for his team mates.
Halfway through the half The Archers started to find their feet. A well worked corner routine ended in Roscrow being unable to nod his effort on target, and it was Roscrow again who had the best chance of the half. Shielding the ball well from the Barry defence, his turn and shot producing a good save from Lewis. Towards the end of the half, Cooper’s header tested the Met defence, but Lang got down well to deny him.
The second half did not start with the same intensity as it did in the first half. A real chance occurred from a free kick to Met, where Roscrow could bend it round the wall but Lewis was well matched to deal with it. Half chances then came and went for Sainty and Owen for Barry and Met respectively, but neither of them could get any purchase on their efforts.
It wasn’t until the 88th minute that the game really kicked into gear. From a lofted free kick that Barry failed to clear, Warre was kicked in the air by McDonald, and the referee had no option other than to give the penalty. Eliot Evans stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way and put Met 1-0 up. Barry couldn’t muster another chance, while Warman could have doubled the lead for The Archers, but his effort was saved well by Lewis.
The result now means Barry have lost their last four games, leaving them in eighth place. Cardiff Met on the other hand got back to winning ways after their weekend defeat to Haverfordwest County, and the result keeps Met in sixth place.
Barry’s next match will be away to Bala Town, while Cardiff Met will welcome Connah’s Quay Nomads to Cyncoed.
Man of the Match – Adam Roscrow
Roscrow was certainly the best player on the pitch. His aerial ability and hold up play was a real test for the Barry defence, and he was a big reason as to how Cardiff Met got back into the match after a poor start.
Line-ups
Barry – Lewis (GK), Cummings (Press 90’), Sainty, Patten, McLaggon (C), Jarvis (Kavanagh 64’), Cotterill (Day 78’), McDonald, Abbruzzese, Cooper, Green
Unused Subs – Absalom (GK), Wharton, Bennett, Huggins
Cardiff Met – Lang (GK) (C), Chubb, McCarthy, Lewis, Price, E. Evans, Roscrow, Corsby, Owen (Warre 71’, Warman 88’), Rees (Craven 90+2’), J. Evans
Unused Subs – Manson (GK), J. Davies, T, Davies
