Yzzy Taylor and Luke Williams react to Cardiff Met’s win over Barry Town

Cardiff Met manager Yzzy Taylor and Barry assistant Luke Williams gave their thoughts on the thrilling affair at Cyncoed Campus resulting in a 3-1 win for the hosts.

‘’We knew it was gonna be a frustrating game.’’ Taylor started.

‘’We did our homework, we knew they were gonna sit off and not press too high so we dealt with that and although it was frustrating we did well to come away with three points.

‘’They have some fantastic young players and plenty of pace up front but our back four have been reliable as ever.’’

Erin Murray came off after just 32 minutes in the match but not before she already gave the Archers a 2-0 lead.

Commenting on the early substitution, Taylor stated: ‘’She’s okay. She just had a clip on the ankle and we know we have to be careful so it was just precautionary really.’’

Cardiff Met have won all of their last four games in the league leaving them second in the league after a loss to Swansea denying them top spot. However, a tough run lies ahead.

‘’We spoke about [the upcoming games] and we can say take it as it comes and we know Abergavenny away is going to be frustrating on grass which is different from us playing on 3G so that’s a new challenge.

‘’We know we have Swansea twice and Cardiff twice coming up and those are the games we’re preparing for but we’re just going game by game with our approach but definitely looking forward to those.’’

Under interim management of Lee Kendall, who will succeed Gavin Chesterfield as manager of the men’s team, thongs have improved.

Barry Town Women are uncertain who the next to take full-time reins of the manager role will be. Key staff member, Luke Williams gave his opinions on the result.

Williams said: ‘’I think being realistic, coming here as a club in our second season when last year this fixture ended 7-1 it shows the fact we’ve come out of this one disappointed that there’s been loads of positives and really proud with how hard the girls worked and there’s something we can build on for our next games.

‘’I think the last 20 minutes we had great chances and were probably on top of the game, that shows the players are learning.

‘’One of their goals is potentially offside, a mistake for their second goal and an early one in the second half killed momentum but the fact the players didn’t cave in and really kept working, we hit the bar and their keeper made a great save. On another day we could’ve had a point.’’

Along with a discussion being had between referee and his assistant for the Met opener, Barry felt they had other decisions go against them.

One particular incident inside the first 10 minutes of the second half, an off-the-ball incident in the box had Linnet fans furious they weren’t awarded a penalty.

Commenting on the incident, Williams said: ‘’There was a few throughout the game, you get some and you don’t get some. We’ve had some in our favour earlier in the season and today we didn’t maybe just when we needed it with our back against the wall but to show we’re competing is great.’’

MacKenzie Olden stood out for the Town once again as one of a number of young players in the squad. The 18-year-old managed her fifth goal in her fifth game in the League so far this season. With the top three sides all already played once, she looks to improve on her nine goal tally from last season.

‘’For someone to get nine goals last season in her debut year against experienced defenders is obviously great but I think she’s learnt and her all-round game is always improving and she’s a real threat,” he said. “This time last year, I think she would’ve been shattered 60 minutes in and today her electric pace didn’t stop and if the passes can find her she can show what she can do.

‘’She has a poacher’s instinct and with hitting the bar and the keeper’s great save on another day she could’ve had three or four and she’s very important to us but all the young players are and they’re getting better all the time and in a place where they’re getting regular football, it’s important to keep developing.’’

(Featured Image: Carl Robertson)