A dogged performance from Caerau Ely saw them earn a point from STM Sports.
Hywel Davies’ second-half effort cancelled out Josh Graham’s 16th-minute opener.
STM Sports’ Joe Evans will miss the reverse fixture at Llanrumney 3G after being red-carded in stoppage time.
The Young Guns – earned their first point in over two months- ending a four-game losing run in the Cymru South.
Caerau Ely began the game from the kick-off as they created a number of attacks.
Player-chairman Geza Hajgato was putting his stamp onto the game by spraying a number of delicate balls.
Hajgato found Mellon’s top goalscorer Calum Bateman but the striker hit his shot over the bar.
Caerau Ely were creating a number of chances as they continued their search for a first league victory.
An indirect free-kick was awarded to Ely following Elijah Chilekjwa’s pressure on Exauce Dimonekne.
Danny Hooper’s free-kick was blocked on the line for a corner-kick STM held firm.
Luke Bridgeman’s towering header from the resulting pieces was inches from going in as this newly-found confidence was growing.
The waves of Caerau attacks though continued to yield to nothing and STM Sports punished them.
Chris Worsley’s placed shot was saved by Elliot Mathews after Geza Hajgato’s lofted ball but Josh Graham struck on the rebound.
Chilekwa – a menace for Caerau – almost drew Caerau Level but Dimonekene came out on top in a one-on-one.
Bateman missed another opportunity to get on the scoresheet as his tight-angled shot glanced just wide of the post.
A youthful Levi Robson was on hand to deny STM twice, firstly blocking Joe Evans’ shot before tackling Marcus Jones in the box to stop him from pulling the trigger.
Dale Gardiner’s men held a slender lead at the break but will have been wary of a Caerau side who had matched team.
Caerau had a good opportunity to equalise when Chilekwa found Hywel Davies but his lifted shot was pushed away by Dimonekene.
Davies did equalise moments later for the Young Guns in a goal they thoroughly deserved.
Benjamin Vincent did the hard work as he escaped the challenges of the defender to lay it to Davies to tap home from yards out.
STM Sports’ natural passing game was being impacted due to the heavy surface whilst it was the opposite, as it proved a benefit for Caerau.
Davies forced the STM keeper into a save after working hard off-the-ball to obtain possession. Chilekwa then touched a shot over the bar from Nathan Mathias’ well-found cross.
Joe Shephard’s string of full-blooded tackles was what personified Caerau’s performance as they continued to frustrate STM.
In a rare opportunity for STM, Calum Bateman rattled the crossbar in a shot which had Elliot Matthews beaten.
(Image: Mike James)
Substitute Abubacarr Sama went for the spectacular with a shot from distance but Dimonekene parried it away.
STM’s Benjamin Ahmun – introduced with ten minutes remaining – put his shot over the bar having bided his time for it to bounce comfortably.
The Mellons’ job of getting a victory was made harder when captain Joe Evans was red-carded by Alexander McInch for a lunge on Nathan Mathias.
Despite a brief man-advantage, Caerau were unable to trouble STM in the remaining minutes of stoppage time.
Caerau Ely: Elliot Matthews, Jerome Maynard, Daniel Hooper, Levi Robson, Luke Bridgeman, Joe Shephard, Nathan Mathias, Dylan Amin (Huw Corne 67), Benjamin Vincent (Josh Spencer 83), Hywel Davies, Elijah Chilekwa (Abubacarr Sama 74).
Goals: Hywel Davies 59′
STM Sports: Exauce Dimonekene, Geza Hajgato (Hermon Yohannes 81), Riccardo Mackenzie, Thomas Burridge, David Biggs, Chris Hajgato, Joe Evans (C), Marcus Jones (Ben Ahmun 81), Calum Bateman, Chris Worsley (Sam Cawley 90), Josh Graham.
Goals: Josh Graham 16′
See how the game unfolded here:
(Featured Image: Mike James)
Leave a Reply