Cardiff Met made it three wins from four in the Adran Premier with a 3-1 victory against a battling Barry Town United at Cyncoed Campus.
A first-half double from Erin Murray added to in the second half by Evie Griffiths got the hosts over the line despite MacKenzie Olden’s consolation.
The Archers remain second in the table with their sole defeat of the season coming on the opening day of the season to Swansea City while Barry drop to sixth after playing all of the current top three in the last four weeks.
In the opening 10 minutes, there were no major attacks were to note. Cardiff Met looked the longer of the two sides although Barry looked to play on the break with positive signs of pace shown from Taite Trivett early on.
Met had scored 11 goals in their last three league games before this one and they showed why in the opening quarter. Robyn Pinder slipped through Murray for a simple one-on-one to take the lead.
Just three minutes later, the 26-year-old doubled her goal tally in the match. A defensive mix-up and with the keeper rushed out, Murray picked up the pieces to pass the ball into an empty net.
The Cardiff-based side looked to add to their lead with half an hour on the clock. A magnificent ball out wide from Sophie Hancocks fed through Ellie Preece who should’ve scored; Barry keeper Erin Brennan rectified her earlier mistake with a terrific save.
Met’s double goalscorer made way from the pitch after just 32 minutes as she hobbled off with an injury and was replaced by Amy Long.
The visitors weren’t going down without a fight and made the most of the Murray substitution instantly. Manon Pearce spotted the defenders static and Olden’s superb run allowed her to get on the scoresheet for the fifth time in as many games this season.
Shortly before halftime, the hosts thought they had a third. Preece causing trouble for the Barry defence one more, this time her run in behind forcing a save from point blank range.
It only took three minutes in the second half for Met to stretch their lead once more. Rebounding from an Elianna Chavez chance, Griffiths found herself in the box to get the hosts’ third.
Griffiths had a chance to get herself another with a free header. A nicely played move out from the back led to a great cross from Pinder looking for her second assist of the game but Griffiths’ header was just wide.
Barry thought they had a twist to add to the tale with 15 minutes to play. Pearce’s brilliant through balls proven once again with Olden beating the defence on her own sent her shot skimming off the crossbar.
The Linnets continued to mount pressure on the counter-attack into the final quarter of an hour. Balls over the top to Olden continued with Pearce and Anna Houghton beginning to pull the strings in midfield. Town’s chances mounted into the final few moments, a lofted ball into the box saw Pearce strike wide from a tight angle in a chance to fight back. Wasted opportunities looked to allow Met to hold onto the victory.
Cardiff Metropolitan: Forkings, Griffiths, Corne, Richardson, Turner ©, Hancocks, Preece, Allen, Pinder, Murray (Long 32’), Chavez.
Subs not used: Smith, Webb, Nanette.
Goals: Murray 19’ & 22’, Griffiths 48’,
Barry Town United: Brennan, Harris ©, Ebbin, Bennett, Trivett, Houghton, Olden, Pearce, Nicholson (MacDonald 81’), Malenga, Fohey-Pennell (Jenkins 49’).
Subs not used: Lockwood-Jones, Hamed-Jones, Thomas.
Yellow Cards: Bennett 54’.
Goals: Olden 34’.
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