Cardiff Met are through to the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup after narrowly defeating Pontypridd United.
It was an even contest in the opening stages of the game, but Ponty got close to scoring when Ben Ahmun scuffed his tap-in to an eventual off-side move. Met relied heavily on counter-attacks, as both the teams were content with Ponty passing around. Archers winger Haben Samson started causing problems down the right wing, but a Ponty leg always tackled him to stop his drives.
Met defender Emlyn Lewis was solid at the back for the home side, even providing support down the wing for a quick counter in the 17th minute! The Archers kept pushing from the right, and in the end they scored off a catastrophic goalkeeping blunder by Ponty’s George Ratcliffe, who in a moment of pressure lost the ball to Eliot Evans, who glided it past the goal-line in the 30th minute to score what would be the only goal of the game.
Ponty picked themselves up and started creating chances, especially in the final minutes of the half. Owain Jones created the bulk of the Pontypridd chances, but the left-winger’s crosses often found no head to put it in.
Although the second half started on an even note, it was Cardiff Met who had the biggest chance of the resumption. A met counter-attack mixed with scrappy Pontypridd defending found Eliot Evans on the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat, but his indecision caused the away defence to clear the ball out of touch, leaving the Archers fans frustrated.
Evans did his best to make up for his mistake five minutes later, when he dribbled past three Ponty defenders to create a dangerous chance for the home side. After a couple of substitutions from each side, Pontypridd started dictating terms, and Met began sitting back and putting on a defensive shift. It was all Ponty till the 72nd minute when Harry Owen had to block an attempt from close to the goal-line.
However, there was another golden chance for Met to double their lead in the 74th minute, but Sam Jones skied his attempt above the post. Things became ugly for the home side when two of the Met support staff, including manager Ryan Jenkins, were booked for dissent and over-protesting.
After a few tackles and injury breaks, there were two big chances missed in the final stages of the game – first by Clayton Green who missed a free header, and then by Sam Jones who failed to score in a one-on-one situation with the Ponty goalie. The referee blew for full time in the 94th minute, much to the delight of the Archers faithful.
Cardiff Met – Alex Lang (GK), Kyle McCarthy ©, Emlyn Lewis, Thomas Price, Eliot Evans, Dixon Kabongo, Lewis Rees (Finley Skiverton 45’), Harry Owen, CJ Craven, Haben Samson (Evan Cadwallader 72’), Sam Jones.
Goals – Eliot Evans 31’.
Yellow Cards – Emlyn Lewis 27’, Sam Jones 26’, Craig Hansford (coach) 80’, Ryan Jenkins (Manager) 83’.
Pontypridd United – George Ratcliffe (GK), Ethan Vaughan (Jan Maertins 83’), Keston Davies (Jordan Knott 61’), Ben Williams-Margetson, Corey Shephard, Ben Ahmun, Joe Hunt, Owain Jones (Jarrad Wright 61’), Owen Pritchard, Clayton Green, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson.
Yellow Cards – Ben Ahmun 21’, Keston Davies 45+3’, Clayton Green 90+2’.
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