Cardiff Met came back from 2-0 to beat Aberystwyth Town on penalties, in a thrilling game at Cyncoed.
A goal from Charley Edge and a wonder strike from Alex Darlington put Aber in a very comfortable position. But a goal from Matt Chubb on the stroke of halftime and a superb solo goal from Sam Jones levelled the game.
In the end, Max Manson’s save from Sam Phillips’ penalty was the game winner for the Archers, as they march on into the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter finals.
It was a quiet start to the game with the majority of the opening ten minutes been played in the midfield. A chance for Harry Arnison for Aber and one for Met’s Emlyn Lewis the only thing of note.
The visitors took it up a gear and had a wonderful chance to lead on the 17-minute mark. The mercurial Niall Flint ran up the wing and into the box before cutting it back to Alex Darlington. It looked so simple to score, but Max Manson sprung into action and made a great save.
But Aber kept knocking and got their first goal ten minutes later. The ball was worked out wide well to the feet of Darlington, and he had the presence of mind to knock it back across the box to Charley Edge, who passed it into the net to put them one up.
Darlington wasn’t going to let the early miss affect him and he scored a wonder goal in the 34th minute to double the lead. Spotting Manson off his line, the forward executed a delicious chip from 35-yards out that sailed over the keeper, to send the travelling fans into ecstasy.
Things were looking grim for Met who really hadn’t tested this Aber team at all, but to the relief of Ryan Jenkins they pulled one back on the half time whistle. A Lewis Rees free kick caught out the Aber defence, allowing Matt Chubb to roam free at the back post and prod his effort in to reduce the deficit to one going into the break.
While Met did push for an equaliser in the second half, nothing was working. They were missing a cutting edge, that final ball to really test this Aber defence who, to their credit, were set up well to deal with anything Met threw at them.
Edge hit the bar 18 minutes from time to almost seal it for Aber. Instead, Met would go on to equalise five minutes later.
After another attack that looked like it would end with nothing, Sam Jones picked up the ball on the edge of the box, cut inside and fired a shot into the far corner, in a goal that Gareth Bale would be proud of.
Neither side could find the winning goal, and to penalties we went.
Max Manson saved the first Aber penalty from Sam Phillips and Met converted all theirs, allowing former Aber player Emlyn Lewis to score the winning penalty and send Met through.
Player of the Match: Niall Flint
Flint certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side today. His touches, his trickery and his direct running caused problems for Met and his performance was a joy to watch.
Cardiff Met
Max Manson (GK), Matt Chubb, Alaric Jones, Emlyn Lewis, Chris Baker (C), Lewis Rees, Harry Owen, Chris Craven, Dixon Kabongo, Craig Davies, Sam Jones
Unused Subs: Alex Lang (GK), Eliot Evans, Jac Davies, Cian Williams, Harris Feltham, Charles Bullock, Elliot Humphries
Goals: Matt Chubb (45’), Sam Jones (77’)
Yellow Cards:
Aberystwyth Town
Lewis Webb (GK), Philip Perry, Sam Litchfield (Louis Bradford, 46’), Jack Thorn (C), Iwan Lewis, Niall Flint, Charley Edge, Harri Horwood, Harry Arnison (Sam Phillips, 53’), Ben Erickson, Alex Darlington
Unused Subs: Leigh Jenkins (GK), Jonathan Evans, John Owen, Jamie Jones
Goals: Charley Edge (27’), Alex Darlington (34’)
Yellow Cards: Charley Edge (17’), Anthony Williams (87’)
Penalty Shootout
Cardiff Met: Harry Owen (Yes), Sam Jones (Yes), Lewis Rees (Yes), Chris Craven (Yes), Emlyn Lewis (Yes)
Aberystwyth: Sam Phillips (No), Jack Thorn (Yes), Charley Edge (Yes), Niall Flint (Yes)
Met win 5-3 on penalties
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