Cardiff Met pick up vital three points against Pontypridd United

Cardiff Met picked up a vital three points on Wednesday night, as they defeated Pontypridd United 1-0.

The Archers had a host of good chances in the first half, and eventually, Ellie Preece broke the Ponty barricade to score the vital goal. It could have been worse for the home side, but Klaudia Wojtyczka was in fine form between the sticks for the Dragons.

The result keeps Ponty bottom of the table on zero points, while Met stay sixth but move on to eleven points.

Pontypridd made one change from their last game, which was a cup defeat to Cardiff City. Ffion Simmonds came out the lineup, with Katie Williams replacing her.

Cardiff Met made three changes from the side that lost to Swansea City last weekend. Carys Gittins, Emily Pearson, and Sally Grimm made way for Daisy Farrow, Grace Corne, and Esme Kilburn-Thompson.

The Archers came into this game off the back of a dismantling at the hands of Swansea City, and certainly came out like a team who had a point to prove.

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From the off they created chances at will. Erin Murray saw an effort blocked onto the post, Ellie Preece fired over from a tight angle, while Faith Mulenga saw her shot cannon off the inside of the crossbar before being cleared away by a relieved Ponty defence.

If Met were to score, it was going to come through Preece. The electric winger was causing problem after problem for the Dragons. She jinked her way from the byline into the box but could only drag her shot wide. She did the same again minutes later but could only fire straight at Klaudia Wojtyczka.

Met went even closer as the minutes dwindled down in the first half. Kilburn-Thompson beat the offside trap expertly and squared across to Chelsea Cochrane, who somehow missed from two-yards out.

But Daniel Delahay and his side breathed a huge sigh of relief as they took the lead three minutes before the break. Emily Bayliss threaded through a pinpoint pass into the feet of Preece, who took the ball into the box and executing a composed finish past Wojtyczka. A very one-sided half and Met finally had a goal to show for their dominance.

Ponty certainly looked more defensively stable at the beginning of the second half but hadn’t put Met keeper Daisy Farrow under any kind of pressure. Eventually, both Lucy Jones and Jasmine Turner were able to create chances, but neither tested Farrow.

Soon enough, the Archers were able to assert their dominance once more as they ventured to try and find more goals. However, Wojtyczka was in fine form in the second half as she kept Ponty in it. A diving save from Kilburn-Thompson certainly a highlight for the Polish shot stopper.

But Ponty began to find their feet later in the game, and almost levelled. Efa Preece Jones danced round the onrushing Farrow, before squaring to Nicole Fenton, but enough burgundy bodies got back to block her shot.

Despite controlling the ball for the final minutes, Ponty couldn’t muster any meaningful attempt on target, and unfortunately for them, time ran out.

Both sides will be back in action on Sunday. Pontypridd will host Aberystwyth Town, while Cardiff Met travel to face Swansea City.

Player of the Match: Emily Bayliss

A big shoutout to Klaudia Wojtyczka who made some quite brilliant save, but Bayliss was brilliant tonight. She’s like a metronome in the Met midfield and keeps finding key pass after key pass. Where would Met be without her?

Pontypridd United

Klaudia Wojtyczka, Shannon Hindmarsh, Clare Daley ©, Madison Williams, Jasmine Turner, Ellie Gunney, Katie Williams (Yasmin Wilcox 82’), Efa Preece Jones, Nicole Fenton, Sophie Topper, Lucy Jones

Unused Subs: Eleanor Brook, Ffion Simmonds, Ruby James, Grace Grosvenor

Cardiff Met

Daisy Farrow, Sophie Davidson (Kennesha Nanette 50’), Anna Houghton, Tiggi Webb, Grace Corne, Emily Bayliss, Ellie Preece, Chelsea Cochrane, Esme Kilburn-Thompson, Erin Murray © (Sally Grimm 61’), Faith Mulenga

Unused Subs: Carys Gittins, Lauren Payne, Leah Samuel

Goals: Ellie Preece (42’)

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)