Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County share spoils after Ifan Knott heroics
Haverfordwest County goalkeeper Ifan Knott saves a penalty against Cardiff Met. (Image: Sgorio)
Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County could not be separated as they drew 1-1 at Cyncoed Campus.
It was the tale of two penalties as Kai Whitmore scored his spot-kick and Lews Rees failed to scored his as Ifan Knot denied the Archers the win after Rees’ equaliser.
The opening stages were end to end and a physical one as tackles and shoulder barging were going on.
It did not take too long for the first yellow to be shown as Ricky Watts was booked for a foul on CJ Craven.
The first real chance of the game for either side went to the home side as Lewis Rees played a short pass to Craven who delivered a cross to Joe Evans who had his half-volleyed effort deflected into the side netting.
The home side had two chances not too long after each other as Kyle Mccarthy and Tom Price had long-distance strikes that did not trouble Ifan Knott in the Haverfordwest goal.
Daniel Hawkins had the first real chance for the away side as his back was towards the goal, he spun around and had an effort go just wide from close range.
The last chance of the half went to the away side as Jack Wilson took a free kick from 25 yards out as it went just wide.
Met started the second half with the chances as Lewis Rees was the major threat going forward for Met following the suspensions of Eliot Evans and Sam Jones.
Rees delivered a cross to Tom Vincent who had his header fall to the feet of Dixon Kabongo who hit it wide, so we thought as the referee gave a corner to the frustration of the Bluebirds.
Met were on and off with how they were taking their set-pieces as Lewis Rees sent a cross into the area as Knott was forced to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
As Met chances dried up, the away side countered as Lee Jenkins had a header go just wide of the post.
Another booking soon came for the away side as Kai Whitmore was in the book as he was given a yellow for a foul on Kyle McCarthy.
Whitmore caused a threat to Met with his attacking movements as he played a through ball pass to Jack Wilson who had an effort go wide from distance.
Moments later, Craven tried an audacious effort to chip the Haverfordwest keeper from just outside the area.
On the hour mark, Abbruzzese went into a header with Joe Evans nearby as the Met defender was accused of fouling the Bluebirds man.
Kai Whitmore stepped up and sent Alex Lang the other way as the away side took the lead.
Frustrations boiled over on the pitch as Emlyn Lewis was frustrated at the referee following the decision as he was lucky not to receive a booking.
The home side made a double change as Tom Price and Tom Vincent came off with Haben Samson and Finn Skiverton coming on.
Daniel Hawkins was a danger against Cardiff Met especially on set-pieces as he managed to find a pass to Whitmore who forced Lang into making a great stop.
Whitmore was lucky to not be sent off for a second yellow as the midfielder kicked the ball away and the ref waved away Met’s frustrations following the decision.
As Met were angry down in their defensive half it was jubilation down the other end as Kyle McCarthy played a ball onto the head of Finn Skiverton who headed it down for Lewis Rees to finish with a diving header.
Emlyn Lewis received a booking near the end of the game with some fans and away players wanting a red card for a foul on the halfway line.
With six minutes of stoppage time being shown, Met won a penalty following a foul from Aidan MacNamara on his debut brought down Matt Chubb.
Rees stepped up and it was saved by the young Haverfordwest shot-stopper Ifan Knott, who helped grab the away side a vital point.
