By Rhys Harrison
USW made it four wins in five matches by edging a competitive encounter against Cardiff University 5th.
Coming into their penultimate game of the season, USW were eager to bounce back from their embarrassing 10-0 defeat at the hands of Cardiff 4th.
USW had the earliest chance to break the deadlock as Cardiff conceded a penalty corner seven minutes in. However, the ball was struck directly at the goalkeeper and marked a wasted opportunity.
The home side continued to look the more threatening of the two teams on both sides of the ball, creating more chances up front and positioning themselves well to intercept and stifle the Cardiff attack.
USW again wasted a penalty corner chance 12 minutes in as they tried to take a more indirect approach, laying the ball off to an incoming attacker rather than shooting immediately.
This wasted opportunity would turn out to be a blessing in disguise for USW, as almost immediately after play was restarted, they managed to intercept a wayward Cardiff pass and thread a scintillating through ball straight through the Cardiff defenders.
The ball fell to Matt Gower who had his initial attempt saved but latched onto the rebound, rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net to open the scoring.
It seemed that this goal lit a fire under both teams as the next 10 minutes of the half were end-to-end.
Johannes Boos managed to bundle the ball into the goal to make it 2-0 to USW 16 minutes in but Cardiff responded quickly and emphatically when the ball was played into the danger area for George Basnett to turn beautifully and rifle the ball into the net to half USW’s lead three minutes later.
It was clear that USW were not going to give up their two-goal advantage quietly though, as Cardiff were awarded a penalty corner, one that was immediately blocked by an onrushing defender.
Cardiff would be much more clinical with a second chance from a penalty corner and when a shot directly from the set-piece rattled the crossbar it fell at the feet of Noah Smith, who fired in the rebound to put Cardiff back on level terms at the end of the first half.
In the second half, both teams struggled to break the other down, the amount of foul calls increased greatly, and it was apparent that both teams were getting frustrated.
After a mean-spirited second half, highlighted by missed opportunities for both sides, USW found a breakthrough with 15 minutes to play.
A foul was let on by the referee and USW managed to keep their composure, playing the ball down the right wing, eventually finding Boos again in the middle for his second of the day, and USW’s third.
USW’s confidence was at sky high at this point in the match, evident from some incredible individual skill by Gower to beat two Cardiff players with such fluidity that it drew audible reactions from both benches.
Cardiff will undoubtedly be left disappointed with their play towards the end of the game.
They squandered many clear-cut chances with wayward passes that sailed out of bounds and granted USW possession and the ability to hold onto the ball and run out the clock, which they did, eventually emerging 3-2 winners.
Despite the heavy defeat in their last fixture with Cardiff 4th, USW will be happy with their current form as this victory marks their fourth in their last five games.
USW will hope to close out their season with a win when they host Aberystwyth 1st on the 4th of March.