Sam Jones hurts hometown team Pontypridd United with brace for Cardiff Met
CARDIFF, WALES - 13 AUGUST 2022: Cardiff Met's Sam Jones celebrates a goal as met take the lead 1-0 during the 2022/23 JD Cymru Premier League fixture between Cardiff Met University F.C & Connah's Quay Nomads at Cardiff Met Cyncoed Campus, August 13th, 2022, Cardiff, Wales (Pic By John Smith/FAW) (Pic by John Smith/FAW)
Cardiff Met came out as 3-0 winners against Pontypridd United in the Cymru Premier in what was a dominating display at Cyncoed Campus.
Pontypridd came into this game off the back of a 2-1 win over Aberystwyth Town as The Dragons recorded their first win of the season.
The Archers started the game better as they enjoyed the opening minutes with possession, a soft-headered Emlyn Lewis effort being the first chance of the game.
Chances kept coming as a short corner was given to Thomas Price outside the area, as he delivered a perfect ball into the box as CJ Craven headed his effort over the bar.
As Met dominated the opening 15 minutes of the game, Ponty had a chance of their own as Clayton Green had an effort go wide following a Dan Williams cross.
Craven had another chance as he managed to find himself in space from outside the area as the full-back had his effort comfortably saved by Ashley Morris.
It could have been a penalty for Met as Sam Jones was pushed to the ground as nothing was given, as seconds later Emlyn Lewis was punished for a similar tackle as the referee awarded Ponty a free kick.
The free-kick was wasted by the away side as the Archers won a free-kick of their own as Green should have seen a red as a high-footed challenge on Matt Chubb was only deemed to be a yellow card offence.
Eliot Evans was in and around the final third as he played through Lewis Rees who had his effort go inches past the post from close range.
As chances kept coming so did the tackles as what can only be seen as payback for a foul on his teammate Chubb; Jones was given a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Green.
Craven was at it again as the young full-back had a half-volleyed effort outside the box saved by Morris following a Harry Owen delivery.
As Met pushed and pushed the final third of Pontypridd, they made the breakthrough as Evans delivered an inch-perfect ball to Sam Jones who converted his header home to give the Archers the lead.
Sam Jones grabbed his fifth goal of the season following a goal against Connah’s Quay and a hat-trick against Aberystwyth Town.
Neither side could manage to have any more shots in the first half as the game ended for the break.
Cardiff Met started the half as they did in the first as Craven attempted another long-range strike as a 30-yard effort went narrowly wide as he looked to score his first goal for the Archers.
Chances dried up but the yellow cards didn’t as Knott received a booking following an argument with the referee.
Moments after the yellow card, Met grabbed a second as Eliot Evans struck a sweet volley past Morris in the Ponty goal as a slight deflection made it difficult for the keeper to stop it.
The player-coach has been thriving this season as he grabbed his third of the season following goals against Connah’s Quay and Caernafon Town.
Following the second goal the game started heating up, Chris Baker was booked for a foul as CJ Craven was pushed down to the ground for not releasing the ball.
Lewis Rees nearly grabbed his second of the night as he had a close-range effort saved by Morris following a great counterattack from the Archers.
Craven has been a revelation under Ryan Jenkins this season as he scooped up a ball over the top to Harry Owen who provided a poor touch in the area as Ryan Jenkin’s side could have wrapped the game up.
Met did wrap the game up moments later as the man of the moment, Sam Jones grabbed a lucky but smart goal as he tackled a Ponty player from 5 yards out as the ball sneaked past Morris.
Morris is the scorer in the league with six goals from four games this season as the forward arrived from Cambrian in January of this year.
As Met looked to have got the win they brought off both their scorers as summer arrival Alaric Jones was subbed on for Jones and young forward Craig Davies was brought on to replace Eliot Evans.
The last 10 minutes of the game didn’t disappoint as Ponty looked to have grabbed a goal back but after consulting with the linesman, the goal was chalked off for offside.
Ponty could have had a consolation goal as Lang did brilliantly to tip a header onto the crossbar as Met cleared the ball away.
One last chance was still available for the away side but a brilliant clearance from Lewis off the line meant that the Archers kept their third clean sheet of the season.
Cardiff Met currently sit in second place following three wins this season as the Archers have the most goals this season with ten goals.
Pontypridd currently sit in tenth place following the defeat as the Dragons will face a difficult test against TNS this weekend.
Cardiff Met will host Flint Town United in a battle between second and third as Ryan Jenkins hopes to continue his 100% win record at the campus.
Cardiff Met: Alex Lang, Matt Chubb, Kyle Mccarthy, Emlyn Lewis, CJ Craven , Thomas Price, Chris Baker (C) , Harry Owen, Eliot Evans (Alaric Jones, 79), Lewis Rees, Sam Jones (Craig Davies, 81)
Subs:
Max Manson , Alaric Jones , Jac Davies , Dixon Kabongo , CIan WIllaims , Craig Davies,Eliot Humphries
Yellows: Sam Jones 32 , Chris Baker 64
Goals: Sam Jones 39, 75 , Eliot Evans 61
Pontypridd United
Ashley Morris, Luke Cummings (Ben Ahmun, 45), James Saddler (James Bloom, 73) Jordan Knott, Danny Williams (Oliver Dalton, 88), Lewys Twamley, Joe Evans, Jarrad Wright, Joe Hunt, Owain Jones, Clayton Green (C).
Subs:
Morgan Davies, Oliver Dalton, David Vincent, James Bloom, Ben Ahmun, Aaron Hillier, Ellis Hibbert
Yellow: Clayton Green 26, Jordan Knott 61
