Mael Davies inspired a second half-comeback against his former side as Penybont beat rivals Cardiff Met 2-1.
Craig Davies opened the scoring for Met in the first half, but second-half goals by Mael Davies and Lewis Harling gave the home side the three points.
Met’s opening goal was in fact the first shot of the game. Lewis Rees was given plenty of time on the wing and he crossed it to Craig Davies in the box who hit a powerful volley, giving Morris no chance in the goal.
Winger Nathan Wood was Penybont’s main attacking outlet in the first half, and he showed his ability with two chances shortly after Met’s goal. For the first, he received the ball from a throw-in and cut inside, holding off two Met defenders before taking a shot from the edge of the box, but it rolled wide of the goal. Shortly after, Wood took another strike from the edge of the box, but this time his volley was straight at Alex Lang.
Lewis Rees came close to doubling Met’s lead, doing well to turn on the edge of the box, but he saw his powerful shot parried out for a corner. This was actually Met’s last real chance of the whole game, with the home side dominating possession from this point onwards.
After a first-half that lacked spark for Penybont, Kane Owen tried to light up his side with some great crosses into the box, but none of his teammates could get their heads onto the end of them.
The Met defence showed great bravery to get their bodies in front of Penybont’s shots throughout the game, and this was shown early in the second half when both Clutton and Waite had close-range shots blocked. Ten minutes into the second half, Waite had a golden chance to level the scores, but his point-blank shot was straight at Alex Lang.
Penybont’s rejuvenated performance in the second half was large as a result of Mael Davies getting more involved, and it was Davies who scored a superb goal to level the scores just after the hour mark. Sam Snaith did well to stop the ball from going out on the far side, and he played it to Mael Davies who fired a rocket into the top corner.
Penybont had a plethora of chances to take the lead, and it seemed inevitable that they would score again. Lewis Clutton tried his luck with some shots from outside the box, but they were all either saved or wide of the mark. Mael Davies tried to replicate his earlier goal, but his shot was straight at Alex Lang.
With time running out, a Penybont free-kick was played into the box, and was headed by three of their players before Lang did well to tip it over the crossbar.
However, there was nothing Lang could do to stop Harling from giving Penybont the lead, after the midfielder climbed higher than the defenders to head Kane Owen’s corner into the goal.
After falling behind for the first time, Met regained some sort of foothold, and had the majority of the territory and possession, but they failed to convert this into opportunities. The closest they came was through substitute Dan Warre in stoppage time, but he saw his shot blocked by Billy Borge.
Both sides have stayed where they are in the table, although Met find themselves just two points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Penybont are three points behind Newtown who are in third place. Both of these teams’ next game is against the team directly below them, with Met hosting Aberystwyth, whilst Penybont will travel to Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Player of the Match
Mael Davies – Penybont
The right-back produced an attacking performance of the highest quality against his former side, particularly in the second half. His goal was superb, whilst he was also a constant threat down the right-wing.
Penybont: Ashley Morris, Kane Owen (C), Ashley Evans, Dan Jefferies, Mael Davies (Ryan Reynolds 90+1′), Lewis Harling, Nathan Wood, James Waite (Ben Ahmun 70′), Sam Snaith, Billy Borge, Lewis Clutton (Liam Walsh 76′)
Unused substitutes: Sam Goodwin, Jack Evans, Keane Watts, Ryan Reynolds
Goals: Mael Davies 63, Lewis Harling 79′
Cardiff Met: Alex Lang (C), Kyle McCarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Tom Price, Eliot Evans, Harry Owen (Liam Warman 15, Dan Warre 76′), Lewis Rees, Joe Evans, Craig Davies, Brandon Roberts
Unused substitutes: Max Manson, CJ Craven, Jac Davies, Zachary Barr
Goal: Craig Davies 11′
Yellow cards: Eliot Evans 33, Joe Evans 43, Kyle McCarthy 57′
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