Cardiff Met 1-1 Barry Town United: A tale of two penalties in forgettable draw

Two penalties for both teams inside a minute meant that the spoils were shared between Cardiff Met and Barry Town.

Eliot Evans and Kyle McLaggon were the scorers for both teams in what was a bore draw, one which will favour Met over Barry.

Met move onto 32 points and are nine points above the drop. Barry stay tenth, but crucially, the gap to the final relegation place is now just a point, after Connah’s Quay’s victory against Cefn Druids.

The first half hour was an even affair. Both sides testing each other and getting in behind occasionally, but no one converting.

Eliot Evans hit the post with a half-volley, while Kayne McLaggon almost headed home from a Rhys Abbruzzese free kick.

Met however took the lead from the spot in the 37^th minute. Nat Jarvis bundled Sam Jones in the area leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Eliot Evans stepped up and put it down the middle.

Remarkably, a minute later, Barry had a penalty of their own in very similar circumstances. This time it was Abbruzzese who was in, and Chris Craven pushed him over and we had another penalty. McLaggon’s stuttering run up resulted in him curling the ball into the bottom corner, just out of Lang’s reach, and we went into half time level.

• Cymru Premier – Fixtures and Results – 2021/2022 season

Much of the second half didn’t live up to the heights of the first. Crosses and passes were hit too hard and didn’t find their marker, frustrating both home and away supporters.

Nat Jarvis had a glorious chance to get the winner five minutes from time. McLaggon’s cross met Jarvis’ head at the back post, but he somehow put it wide, when all the ground thought it was in.

However, a draw certainly seemed like the fair result, but Barry need to start winning games like these, especially with a team like Connah’s Quay breathing down their necks.

Met will next face bottom of the table Cefn Druids, while Barry travel to Aberystwyth in what is well and truly a relegation six-pointer.

Player of the Match: Rhys Abbruzzese

Always a danger down the wing and willing to take on anyone, really good display from the youngster.

Cardiff Met

Alex Lang (GK), Kyle McCarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Tom Price, Eliot Evans, Chris Baker (C), Harry Owen, Lewis Rees, Joseph Evans, Chris Craven, Sam Jones

Unused Subs: Max Manson (GK), Jac Davies, Liam Warman, Thomas Davies, Harris Feltham, Ryan Lewis-Hillier, Elliot Humphries

Goals: Eliot Evans (Penalty, 36’)

Yellow Cards: Kyle McCarthy (30’), Chris Craven (37’)

Barry Town United

Kelland Absalom (GK), Rhys Abbruzzese, Luke Cooper, Curtis McDonald (Evan Press, 66’), Harry Jones, Theo Wharton, Clayton Green, Rhys Kavanagh, Nat Jarvis, Kayne McLaggon (C), Michael George

Unused Subs: Mike Lewis (GK), Robbie Patten, Jordan Cotterill, Mervyn Bennett, Marcus Day, Mo Djalo

Goals: Kayne McLaggon (Penalty, 38’)

Yellow Cards: Theo Wharton (54’), Rhys Kavanagh (82’)

(Featured Image: Chwarae Sports Agency)