Cardiff Met 0-0 Connah’s Quay: Nomads held to draw by improved Archers

Cardiff Met were held by Connah’s Quay Nomads at Cyncoed Campus as the Nomads played their first game following the points deduction.

The Archers lost the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup last month against today’s opposition as the university side controlled the game in which the away side made two changes.

A JD Cymru Premier debut was handed out to Kai Calderbank-Park who replaced first choice keeper, Oliver Byrne.

The early stages were in Met’s favour as the Archers were pressing the attacking third of the pitch with attacking runs from Sam Jones as Emlyn Lewis had an effort go just wide following a set-piece.

A break in play was needed in the opening quarter of an hour as Lewis fell badly as he held his head following a leaping header clearance. Lewis was given the green light to continue the match with the campus silent following the situation.

Thomas Price provided the first real effort of the match as he had his right-footed effort go over the bar.

Moments later, Price had another effort as was in space from 25 yards out as he had his effort go well wide.

The Archers had a free-kick from 40 yards out as Price hit the ball into the hands of Calderbank-Park as the keeper struggled and nearly fumbled the ball following the delivery.

Price was in on the action again as he found himself in space within the penalty area as he dragged his shot wide as he had a flurry of chances to take the lead.

A set piece was delivered into the middle as the ball nearly went directly in from the corner as Calderbank-Park palmed it away from danger.

To close off the half, CJ Craven found himself in space as he latched onto a half volley from outside the area that went over the bar.

Christian Edwards‘ side controlled the first half as Craig Harrison’s side could not deal with pressure from the Archers.

The second half took longer to get chances coming as Eliot Evans had a half volley effort go over the bar as Craig Harrison was furious on the touchline following a refereeing decision in the buildup.

Met controlled the game as the Nomads started to put the pressure on the met defence as Declan Poole provided runs down the right side with met failing to clear the ball away.

Poole was in on the action again as he put in a dangerous delivery into the middle with Lewis in the right place to clear the ball away from danger.

As the Nomads won a corner it was cleared away as Met went on a counterattack as Harry Owen had his cross blocked by Horan as Eliot Evans was waiting in the penalty area.

The last ten minutes of the match provided most of the drama as Price was booked for tripping up Aeron Edwards in the middle of the park.

There were nerves and silence around the campus as George Horan had a looping header go just over the bar as the captain was found at the back post.

Edwards provided the last chance of the match as he fired a strike that went inches past the post as the away side could have taken a late lead.

It was not to be for either side as the university side remains top of the play-off conference as Connah’s Quay remain second from bottom following their 18 points deduction.

Cardiff Met 

Alex Lang, Matt Chubb, Kyle Mccarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Thomas Price, Eliot Evans (Craig Davies, 88), Chris Baker (C) , Lewis Rees (Harry Owen , 62) , Joe Evans, CJ Craven, Sam Jones (Liam Warman,74)

Substitutions

Max Manson, Harry Owen, Liam Warman, Craig Davies, Ryan Lewis-Hillier, Elliot Humphries

Yellow: Price 84

Connah’s Quay Nomads

Kai Calderbank-Park, John Disney, George Horan (C), Jamie Mullan (Jamie Insall, 69) , Callum Morris, Byron Harrison, Declan Poole, Danny Holmes, Kris Owens, Neal Eardley, Aeron Edwards

Substitutions

Mckenzie Price-Griffiths, Jamie Insall, Aron Williams, John Ufuah, Connor Simpson, Josh Williams, Giacomo Mello