Briton Ferry leave it late as Cardiff Met suffer heartache

Briton Ferry snatched a 2-1 win over Cardiff Met to keep their Adran Premier title hopes alive.

After an incident free first 75 minutes, Alison Witts brought the game to life with a spellbinding free kick. With Ferry looking all set to pick up three points, Beca Thomas struck an incredible equaliser in the 92^nd minute.

Yet, a minute after scoring, Met were the creators of their own downfall, as they conceded a penalty. Up stepped Lucy Powell, who sent the keeper the wrong way and seal all three points.

The result keeps Briton Ferry in third, while Cardiff Met remain bottom.

Cardiff Met manager Jonathan Nash elected to name an unchanged side from their 3-2 defeat away to Barry Town at the weekend. That meant the trio of Ruby Colleton, Beca Thomas, and India Shanahan continued up front.

Briton Ferry manager Rhys James made one change from the team that lost 3-2 to TNS in the Adran Trophy semi-finals on Sunday, with Ela Roberts replacing Fleur Jenkins.

The Archers ended their game against Barry the better team, and played with an intensity we haven’t seen from the Cyncoed side all season. Yet, in this matchup, they picked up where they left off and frustrated Ferry for large parts.

Whether it was forcing them to play stray passes or going tight on their markers, Met frustrated title challenging Ferry with every passing minute. While they were able to have sustained periods of possession, they couldn’t create anything in front of goal, and Courtney Young wasn’t tested.

Briton Ferry, on the other hand, looked below par. Unable to find teammates, unable to find a sighter on goal, and unable to execute their press to perfection, frustration started to set in. And it wasn’t just the players on the pitch were unhappy, so were the Ferry faithful, who turned up in good numbers to Cyncoed.

With the vast majority of the first half passing by without incident, the best half chance fell to Tija Richardson, but her header from Lucy Powell’s free kick bounced wide of the post. A poor half, but for Met, plenty of positives.

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The low tempo style of the game continued into the second half, but the tie’s major incident also happened early on. After a goalmouth scramble, Jess Denscombe, along with the Ferry players, staff, and fans were convinced the ball had crossed the line. Those in blue started celebrating, but the officials thought differently, and didn’t award the goal.

With their reprieve, Met looked to take full advantage, and were beginning to pin Ferry back with good pressure, but still, they couldn’t find a way to test Young. Midway through the second period, Thomas was finally able to get an effort away, but the Ferry keeper was alert to palm away the danger.

Even with captain Lowri Ridings’ encouraging shouts from the back, Ferry seemed unsure of themselves in the final third. It felt like they needed a moment of brilliance to find the deadlock, and with twelve minutes remaining, Alison Witts found it.

Lining up a free kick from 25-yards out, Witts ran up and unleashed a ferocious shot which cannoned in off the underside of the bar. A piece of sheer brilliance from the forward, and no goalkeeper in the world could have stopped her effort.

With their tails up, Ferry discovered a confidence that had alluded for the entire match. A confidence to see the game out, to play their football. Met were now the desperate ones and now struggled to break down Rhys James’ stout defensive line.

But, old demons take a while to wrestle with, and Sunday’s woes plagued Ferry right at the death. A loose ball was latched onto by Thomas, and she proceeded to produce a mesmeric lob over Young and into the net. Jubilation for the Archers, who could smell their second point of the season.

And yet, a minute later, the ultimate drama sport conjured up another shocking moment. In the box, Maia Owen was going nowhere, but a Met defender shoved her in the back, leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Up stepped Lucy Powell, who sent Charlotte Smith the wrong way, and win the game for Ferry.

Cardiff Met will next be in action on Sunday afternoon, as they welcome Wrexham to Cyncoed. Briton Ferry’s next matchup comes Thursday January 30^th, as they take on Aberystwyth Town at Old Road.

Player of the Match: Anna Houghton

The unit on the field that impressed me the most was the Met midfielder, and their star was Houghton. Not only did she do her defensive jobs, but the way she brought the ball out and was the catalyst for attacks was special.

Cardiff Met

Charlotte Smith, Anna Houghton (Katy Huntbach 82’), Cerys Garton, Sian Bull, Cerys Pinchard ©, Olivia Barnes, Faith Mulenga, Chelsea Cochrane, Beca Thomas, Ruby Colleton (Samantha Dziminowicz 82’), India Shanahan

Unused subs: Gwenllian Jones, Summer Kilby, Sally Grimm

Goals: Beca Thomas (90+2’)

Yellows: Beca Thomas (47’)

Briton Ferry

Courtney Young, Alice Broadley (Meg Kearle 66’), Brooke Llewellyn, Lowri Ridings ©, Lucy Powell, Ela Roberts, Maia Owen (Ella Smitham 90+4’), Tija Richardson, Alison Witts, Anya Welch, Jess Denscombe

Unused subs: Alexsie Clayton, Catrin Edwards, Aimee Heath

Goals: Alison Witts (78’), Lucy Powell (90+4’ p)

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)