Cardiff Metropolitan University 1-1 Newtown: Robins secure top-six finish with late Sears strike

Newtown secured top-six status with a last minute Ryan Sears equaliser.

Sam Jones’ first half strike was cancelled out with the final kick of the game as Sears’ goal secures Newtown their place in the Championship Conference, as they climb into third place.

Met now have two games left in Phase One of the campaign, and will hope their next two games, away to Newtown and home to The New Saints, will see them finish in the Championship Conference before the split. They are six points off Connah’s Quay in sixth.

Met goalkeeper Alex Lang was called into the game early as he reacted superbly to deny James Davies, who redirected a Limfumpa Mwandwe shot on goal.

A positive passage of play from Met saw Harry Owen receive the ball in the box, but he was tackled by Craig Williams.

The hosts took the lead through Sam Jones, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner after being found in the box from the right-hand side.

Met came close to doubling their advantage as Eliot Evans’ corner came close to catching Dave Jones out, then a cross from the right came close to finding an unmarked Matthew Chubb.

Mwandwe came close from range with a curling effort destined for the top right. Lang dramatically saved and pushed the ball out for a throw in.

Newtown then grew into the game. Mwandwe found James Davies in the box, whose touch ran away from him, and the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

Sam Jones had an opportunity to double his tally as he cut in from the left and fired at goal. Dave Jones saved fairly comfortably.

Eliot Evans fired a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar with the final kick of the first half.

The first chance of the second half fell in the path of Adam Roscrow, whose lofted attempt failed to hit the target.

Newtown came very close to levelling the game when Nick Rushton’s lofted header at the back post forced an athletic save out of Lang. The follow up landed at Mwandwe, who volleyed wide from inside the box.

The Robins continued to apply pressure into the final stages, with the final ball often letting the side down.

Newtown had a penalty shout late on as they claimed a Naim Arsan cross had struck the hand of Kyle McCarthy, but the referee waved play on.

The Robins rescued a point 30 seconds after the four added minutes as crosses came in from either wing before Sears volleyed a kindly-falling ball into the left corner with the final kick of the game.

Cardiff Met: Alex Lang, Matthew Chubb, Kyle McCarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Eliot Evans (Tom Price 72’), Chris Baker (C), Adam Roscrow, Harry Owen (Ryan Lewis-Hillier 59’), Joe Evans, CJ Craven (Liam Warman 86’), Sam Jones (Lewis Rees 72’).

Goal: Sam Jones (18’)

Yellow cards: Matt Chubb (64’), Chris Baker (78’)

Newtown: Dave Jones, Brett Taylor, Callum Roberts (Naim Arsan 77’), Ryan Sears, Lifumpa Mwandwe, Nick Rushton, James Davies (Zeli Ismail 68’), Henry Cowans, Craig Williams (C), George Hughes, Jake Walker.

Goal: Ryan Sears (90+4)

Yellow cards: Lifumpa Mwandwe (29’), Craig Williams (45’), Dave Jones (56’)

(Featured image: Will Cheshire/YCPD)