Cardiff Met 0-0 Bala Town: Honours even at Cyncoed

Neither Cardiff Met nor Bala Town could find the target as they played to a goalless draw upon in their return to Cymru Premier action after a five-week lay-off.

As a whole, it was a pretty uneventful afternoon from both sides with the two opponents showing signs of lacking match sharpness which resulted in an average of 90 minutes of football for the returning spectators.

It was the visitors who had the best of the first half after a flat start to the match. Ten minutes of play saw some good play between David Edwards and Paul Rutherford which led to a freekick being awarded from the edge of the eighteen. Swung in by Brad Bauress, former Archer Will Evans flicked the ball narrowly wide from the near post.

Multiple crosses were being whipped in by Bala through Rutherford, David Edwards, and Oliver Shannon on the right with Emlyn Lewis and Kyle McCarthy doing well in the back for the hosts keeping Bala’s threats at bay.

Down the other end, a spectacular bicycle kick by Chris Baker connected onto a right-sided corner kick but Lassana Mendes cleared the danger.

A two-minute sustained spell of pressure followed by the Lakesiders eventually saw Rutherford’s delivery arrive at an unmarked Evans but placed wide of the upright.

Met posed a threat on the break and could’ve opened the scoring then Mendes lost possession in the middle of the park which Lewis Rees blazed over the crossbar from the edge of the D.

Evans and Mendes linked up outside the area resulting in Evans unleashing a powerful shot goalwards but Alex Lang strongly palmed the ball away and out for a corner. A minute later a floating Mendes delivery was hacked off the line by Joseph Evans in a spell that should’ve seen Bala take the lead.

Before the interval, Edwards saw a free header glanced over the woodwork prior to Met’s Harri Owen’s excellent effort flying inches wide of the top left corner with Ramsay beaten.

Chances were few and far between in the second period with a clinical finishing edge lacking in equal measure.

Joseph Evans broke quickly for the hosts but lacked composure and drive the ball over the bar whilst Nathan Peate was caught unaware which allowed Adam Roscrow to latch onto the loose ball and lob the ball wide of the upright in two opportunities for the home side.

Town’s Antony Kay who played well for the Lakesiders placed a free header over the crossbar in the 54th minute.

A 35-yard daisycutter from Thomas Price caught Ramsay off-guard as he initially spilled the ball but was able to recover before the Met center-forwards pounced on the rebound.

Towards the latter stages a Steve Leslie freekick was curled in and met by Kay but yet again, the centre half put the ball over the bar before minutes later Leslie placed his freekick from 30 yards into the trees.

Six minutes from time, the team from the capital could’ve nicked a winner when Kieran Smith lost possession that saw Roscrow pick up the ball and go one on one with Ramsay but the visiting shot-stopper saved strongly to his right.

Not the most memorable of afternoons in Cardiff that leaves them both 7th and 8th respectively in the table.

Cardiff Met: Alex Lang, Matt Chubb, Kyle McCarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Tom Price, Eliot Evans (CJ Craven, 65), Chris Baker, Adam Roscrow, Harry Owen (Harris Feltham, 84), Lewis Rees (Liam Warman, 65), Joe Evans (Craig Davies, 72).

Bala Town: Alex Ramsay, Sean Smith, Nathan Peate, Lassana Mendes, Will Evans, Kieran Smith, Antony Kay (C), Paul Rutherford (Steven Leslie, 55), David Edwards, Bradley Bauress (Calum Woods, 84), Oliver Southern.

Yellow Cards: Kieran Smith 36’