by Matt Slater
MIKEY Wicherek’s solo goal and heroics from Danni Jones gave USW the three points as they faced a tough opposition in Cardiff.
After a scrappy start to the game, USW’s Richard Abbott fouled a Cardiff attacker on the edge of the box, but the cleverly thought out, low free kick went just wide of the post.
Shortly after, USW’s clearance flew over the Cardiff defence and fell into the path of Raeon Mignott, who held up play to be able to lay it off to Huxley on the edge of the box. The captain’s curling effort flew just over the bar.
In an end to end first half, Cardiff were also looking to craft their own attacks together. The home side’s No.11 fired up a powerful shot, but it failed to find the target.
USW then fired their best chance of the first half with Mignott through a freekick that was given after a good Cardiff tackle on the away player. Mignott’s attempt was heading for the top corner of the net but was tipped over for a corner after a great save from the ‘keeper.
Only minutes later, a perfectly weighted ball flew over the top of the Cardiff defence and found an away striker, whose one-on-one chance was wasted.
As the second half commenced, USW mounted pressure onto Cardiff and opened the lead through Wicherek, who has already found the back of the net frequently this season. The goal came through Wicherek’s creativity, as he beat two defenders and found the bottom corner.
The game started to become more of a feisty affair, due in part to the local rivalry between the two sides.
In the dying embers of the game, a poorly played USW back pass did not have enough pace to reach Jones, as he brought down the Cardiff attacker in the box. The resulting penalty was saved by the diving keeper, as he kept the ball from heading into the bottom corner with a fantastic save.
