Caerau Ely claim derby bragging rights after dramatic Cardiff Dracs clash
Caerau Ely claimed the bragging rights once again as they made it five consecutive victories over Cardiff Dracs in a dramatic contest.
The visitors made the perfect start when experienced midfielder Lewis Harling struck inside the opening minute, before adding his second shortly after half-time.
Liam Bishop had earlier seen a penalty saved by Harry Johnson, but he atoned for that miss by helping create Harling’s second goal.
Caerau then looked to have the game firmly under control, only for Dracs to find a late consolation through Sam Cawley.
Carlos Indjai was subsequently shown a second yellow card and sent off as the closing stages became increasingly frantic.
Caerau ultimately held on to secure the points, with their victory moving them up to fifth in the Cymru South table, just three points away from a play-off place. Dracs remained 13th.
The result also gave Ben Stait his first away victory since taking charge, having already overseen home wins against Treowen Stars and Llanelli Town.
Harling gives Caerau Ely the perfect start
Caerau Ely needed less than a minute to take the lead.
Joe Woodiwiss won possession and immediately looked forward, sending a superb ball over the top for Harling to chase.
There was no offside flag, and Harling kept his composure brilliantly, racing through before calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing Johnson.
The visitors then had a golden opportunity to double their advantage when Dracs were penalised after Nathan Mathias was adjudged to have handled a cross inside the area.
Bishop stepped up from 12 yards, but Johnson guessed correctly and made an excellent save low to his right.
Caerau continued to threaten, with the resulting corner causing chaos inside the Dracs box. Vaughn Fowler appeared to have a clear route towards goal, only for Mathias to get in the way.
The danger was not fully cleared, and the ball eventually dropped to Tim Parker around eight yards out, but he could only fire over the bar.
James Williams then produced a marauding run into the box, gliding past defenders before trying to squeeze a shot past Johnson at the near post. The Dracs goalkeeper stood firm again.
Cardiff Dracs threaten before the break
Dracs gradually grew into the contest and created their first real opportunity when Sam Cawley picked up possession on the left edge of the box.
The winger curled an effort towards goal, forcing Harry Irving into action for the first time, although the Caerau goalkeeper held on comfortably.
Cawley remained at the heart of Dracs’ best moments and went even closer shortly afterwards.
He initially appeared set to cross before dummying his defender and unleashing a low, powerful effort.
Irving was beaten, but the ball crashed back off the right-hand post. The rebound failed to fall kindly for the hosts, and Caerau survived a huge scare.
Dracs also threatened from a free-kick when Myles Corson and Haben Samson stood over the ball, with Corson eventually taking responsibility.
His low effort went underneath the wall but lacked the pace to trouble Irving, who gathered comfortably.
In first-half stoppage time, Dylan Amin then managed to get a shot away through a crowd of bodies, but Irving remained alert and made the save.
Harling doubles Caerau’s advantage
Caerau restored their control four minutes into the second half.
Parker won the initial flick-on, and the ball found its way through to Bishop, who did the hard work from there.
Bishop drove forward before squaring the ball into the path of Harling, who found himself in a dangerous position.
The experienced forward kept his composure and fired home despite several Dracs players attempting to block the effort.
Dracs tried to respond and came close again when a long throw was launched into the box.
Luke Gullick got a slight touch, and the Caerau defence momentarily stood still, with the ball clipping the post before bouncing away on the wrong side of the goal.
Nathan Mathias then worked the ball down the flank before finding Amin in a central position.
Amin got his head to the delivery, but his effort lacked the power to trouble Irving, and the Caerau goalkeeper made a comfortable save.
Caerau Ely make it 3-0 late on
Caerau Ely put the game beyond doubt late on when Nathan Mathias was cheaply dispossessed, allowing Zack Maher to carry the ball forward before finding Jaden Bahumaid.
Bahumaid aimed and found the bottom-right corner with a composed finish, adding a third for Caerau Ely and putting the visitors firmly in control.
Cawley pulls one back as Indjai sees red
Dracs refused to give up and eventually found a way back into the contest through Sam Cawley.
The forward had already been one of the hosts’ biggest threats, and his efforts were rewarded when he pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 and give Dracs renewed hope in the closing stages.
The goal changed the mood around the ground, with Caerau suddenly under pressure as Dracs pushed for another.
There was further drama when Dracs’ Carlos Indjai was shown a second yellow card and sent off, leaving the hosts with ten men for the closing stages.
Despite the late pressure, Caerau Ely held on to secure another victory over their Cardiff rivals.
Cardiff Dracs
Harry Johnson, Keegan Saunders (Callum Nippers, 82), Sam Cawley (captain), Nathan Mathias, Dylan Amin, Myles Corson, Josh Stephens (Efu Kazadi, 46), Dan Bowen (Jacob Benford, 73), Harry Treharne (Jamal Roberts, 85), Carlos Indjai, Haben Samson (Luke Gullick, 46).
Caerau Ely
Harry Irving, James Williams (captain) (Harvey Sing, 81), George Sheppard, Vaughn Fowler, Joe Woodiwiss, Lathan Garrett (Jed Osborne, 90+1), Owen Bancroft, Lewis Harling, Tim Parker (Dan Griffiths, 63), Josh Graham (Zack Maher, 63), Liam Bishop (Jaden Bahumaid, 81).
