Cardiff Met 2-1 Newtown: Second half fightback gets Met into next round
Cardiff, WALES - 7th August, 2022: Shane Sutton of Newtown celebrates scoring his sides first goal. Cardiff Metropolitan University v Newtown in the Nathaniel MG Cup at Cyncoed Campus on the 7th August 2022. (Pic by Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
An inspired second half from Cardiff Met saw them defeat fellow Cymru Premier side Newtown in the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
After a less than impressive first half hour, where Shane Sutton headed Newtown ahead, Met rallied back with a penalty from Eliot Evans and a Harry Owen winner, which saw Met reach the third round.
Newtown imposed themselves onto Met very early on. Some high pressing resulted in Aaron Williams having the ball in the net in the third minute, only for the linesman flag to deny the Robins of any celebration.
They only had to wait seven minutes later until they could celebrate a real goal. A corner floated in found the head of Shane Sutton, and while Tom Price tried his best to clear the ball of the line, his efforts were in vain, and Newtown were leading.
Met got back into the game slowly, particularly in the second half of the first half. Chances came and went, but a combination of great defending and superb saves from Dave Jones kept the Archers scoreless, as both teams went back into the changing rooms at half time.
Ryan Jenkins must’ve given his team a good talking to at the break and Met certainly came out with more aggression and intent at the start of the second half.
They almost equalised very early into the half. A cross from McCarthy evaded everyone in the box and just managed to miss the far corner, to the relief of the Newtown defence.
Met were growing and growing, but their efforts were still being blocked tremendously by the Robins.
However, in the 72nd minute, the Archers got their chance to equalise. Matt Chubb made a great run into the area, and he was cynically dragged down in the area, leaving the referee no decision but to point to the spot.
The experienced Eliot Evans stepped up and slammed the ball down the middle, leaving Dave Jones no chance, and Met’s tails were up.
Under the gaze of new Connah’s Quay manager Neil Gibson, Met had a new lease of life after the goal and they pushed and pushed for a second, and six minutes from time they found it.
Chubb made space for himself down the wing and produced an excellent low cross which found Harry Owen, who applied the easiest of finishes to complete the comeback.
Player of the Match – Matt Chubb
Chubb really inspired his team today. His industrious running down the wing really pay dividends in the end, and he will be a key cog in Jenkins’ team this season
Cardiff Met
Alex Lang (GK), Matt Chubb, Kyle McCarthy, Emlyn Lewis, Tom Price, Eliot Evans, Chris Baker (C), Lewis Rees (Dixon Kabongo, 86’), Harry Owen, Chris Craven, Sam Jones
Unused Subs: Max Manson (GK), Jac Davies, Cian Williams, Tom Davies, Dan Bowen, Elliot Humphries
Goals: Eliot Evans (72’, p), Harry Owen (84’)
Yellow Cards: Emlyn Lewis (50’), Kyle McCarthy (57’)
Newtown
Dave Jones (GK), Callum Roberts (Rhys Hesden, 81’), Kieran Mills-Evans, Shane Sutton, Louis Robles, Aaron Williams, Henry Cowans (Brett Taylor, 69′), Craig Williams (C), Theo Wharton (George Hughes, 69′), Zeli Ismail, Jake Walker
Unused Subs: Dave Rose (GK), Matty Jones
Goals: Shane Sutton (10’)
Yellow Cards: Jake Walker (49’), Callum Roberts (72′)
