Cardiff Dracs come from behind to beat Canton late on
Cardiff Dracs came from behind to beat Canton and claim the bragging rights in the first Cardiff Derby of the 2023/24 Ardal South West season.
Andre Phillips opened the scoring for Daniel Tanhai’s men just before half-time but Andrew Smith the Dracs back on level terms with 20 minutes to go.
The hosts had the first real test on Dan Hurton’s goal. Jordan Carey recovered the ball from a sliding tackle and played in Bo Cordle but his low shot lacked power to test the goalkeeper. Canton looked the more physical team and won their early 50/50s, and this allowed Louie Crowe to get a shot away.
Dracs tried to play neat, and Myles Corson was able to get a low ball into the box and Rameer Outlaw’s back-heel was blocked on the line by Samual O’Sullivan.
It was truly anyone’s game but 16-year-old Thierry Otu was sparkling Canton, and he dribbled past his opponents before forcing the keeper into action with a low-curled effort. Dracs didn’t clear the ball from the attack, and Luke Bridgeman had to get in the way of Carey’s goal-bound shot.
The referee was forced into a big decision when Callum Gunstone went down in the box but no penalty was awarded. In the same phase of the attack, Corson found Gunstone from a few yards out but couldn’t get his timings right to hit a clean effort.
Both teams started with such an intensity that when the clock hit 30 minutes the two sides slowed down considerably. Canton’s Otu though was full of running and he continued to cause problems but Efu Kazadi did well to block his shot. Up the other end, Corson had time to shoot but hit his curled shot with just too much power.
As the first-half took neared a close, Canton took the lead after receiving a gift from Kazadi. He cheaply gave the ball away and Phillips was able to round the goalkeeper and stroke home with some fortune off of the post.
In the second half, Canton had a glorious chance to double their lead as a right-footed corner came in, and David Trace’s free header somehow went wide. He had his head in his hands as he took his position back in defence.
Canton pushed for that insurance goal and credit to Hurton, he was brave as O’Sullivan’s header hit the post, he blocked Phillips from getting an almost certain equaliser. The home team continued to threaten from corners and Chris Dye’s header had to be blocked on the line in a crowded penalty box.
The visitors got themselves back on level terms after the hosts failed to clear their lines from Cawley’s free-kick. Kazadi’s cross came into the box and Smith was on-hand to score after Manga slid the ball to him.
Canton immediately from the restart searched for that second goal and Hurton made a brilliant double save to deny them. First goalscorer Phillips swept a shot that he stretched to punch behind and then Carey had the same outcome when he drove an effort at him.
Dracs equaliser gave them some confidence and Corson did well to beat his man and find Cawley in the box, but Canton did well to block his shot. The visiting team had the wind in their sales and Oscar Raisbeck’s header went agonisingly wide.
Canton’s rearguard was eventually broken down and it was Corson who was involved. He played a brilliant cross-field ball to the unmarked Cawley and his swept shot hit the post and cannoned in to spark jubilant celebrations.
The home team couldn’t issue a response and instead man-of-the-match nominee Corson was picked out superbly by Marinho Manga, but his shot flashed just past Riella’s goal. In stoppage-time Corson after getting booked had another chance to score but from close-range Riella denied him.
Canton: Cohen Riella (GK), David Trace, Luke Davies, Chris Dye, Samual O’Sullivan, Ashley Park, Jordan Carey (Ahmed Almansour, 69), Andre Phillips (Cian Hales, 69), Louie Crowe (Dale Gardiner, 74), Thierry Otu, Bo Cordle (Saul Tanhai, 68)
Goals: Andre Phillips 43′
Yellow Card: Ashley Park 79, Chris Dye 90+4
Cardiff Draconians: Daniel Hurton (GK), Jordan Fofana, Efu Kazadi, Luke Bridgeman (C), Oscar Raisbeck, Marinho Manga, Myles Corson, Dylan Amin, Sam Cawley, Callum Gunstone (Andrew Smith, 51) (Ben Vincent, 88), Rameer Outlaw.
Goals: Andrew Smith 67, Sam Cawley 85′
Yellow Cards: Myles Corson 90+2′
